The first year, Stewart's Shops donated $750.00 from their annual Holiday Match program to the CEC. This past year, their donation was $1000.00, a substantial gift to our annual fundraiser.
Holiday Match is a program that started over 25 years ago to specifically benefit organizations/programs for kids under the age of 18 in the areas of social services, health, education, recreations, and the arts. To date, with the help of our customers, we have allocated nearly $19 million to our local communities. We collect in our shops from Thanksgiving Day through Christmas Day. We match our customers’ donations dollar for dollar, with no administrative fees. In 2013, together we raised more than $1.34 million for over 1,440 organizations.
Here's a bit more from Stewart's Shops about the organizations they support. The CEC fits perfectly into their criteria:
Our selection of organizations is based on the following considerations: We support organizations within our market area that focus on meeting the changing needs of their recipients rather than perpetuating the status quo. We have an interest in the area of kids, their recreation and education.. We value extensive volunteer support and minimum fund raising costs, avoiding organizations which are already tax supported or have a large amount of overhead... Our communities have more than enough specific needs, so we give to those providing a service, as opposed to those supporting a cause, and we save our contribution dollars for people versus animals. We support local organizations which may not have as broad a base of funding, or have the wide spread emotional appeal of national health organizations.
The Children's Enrichment Committee exists to help Orange County children in need. We are a great example of a "We Live Here, We Give Here," organization.
It's wonderful to receive the recognition and support of Stewart's Shops, and the recognition and support of everyone else, whose donation of time or money, helps us make the lives of Orange County children just a little brighter.
