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The 2007 holiday season was a wonderful time of giving for AFE! With a total of 16 Holiday events in the month of December, we gave away over 4,000 new toys, t-shirts and hot meals to children and their families throughout San Diego County. Participants were invited through several organizations such as the San Ysidro school district, Friends of Scott organization, MAAC Project's Head Start & Early head Start Programs, Neighborhood House Association's Early Head Start and New Life Head Start programs and Episcopal Community Service's Early Head Start Program.
Here's are a couple of brief summary's of our Holiday events:
- Breakfast with Santa at Kings Fish House in Mission Valley took place on December 15th. This was our 8th annual holiday party at King's Mission Valley. Similar in format to the Carlsbad event, over 300 kids and their families attended.
- San Diego Chargers Luis Castillo's program “Castillo's Cargadores” hosted 250 homeless children from the San Ysidro school district for food, t-shirts & autographs December 22nd. Food as provided by our event host sponsor El Pollo Grille. Luis was joined by fellow teammates Kassim Osgood…
- San Diego Chargers Kassim Osgood's program Team KO hosted 300 homeless children from the San Ysidro school district for food, t-shirts, autographs & bowling hosted by Claremont Mesa Bowl December 23rd. Food was provided by Victor, owner of El Pollo Grille. Kassim was joined by fellow teammates Jacques Cesaire, Clinton Hart, Luis Castillo, Brandon McKinney and Tre Battle for a fun filled day of bowling w/ the stars...
December 15 – Christmas Posada, our annual Christmas party
- AFE partnered with the “Friends of Scott” organization and KGTV ch.10 to host Jacques & Friends Holiday” event December 15th. San Diego Chargers Jacques Cesaire, Luis Castillo, Kassim Osgood, Marcus McNeil, Tim Dobbins & Cletis Gordon to meet & greet children from the Friends of Scott foundation. The kids enjoyed hugs, photos, and autographs from all the players. food, toys, t-shirts were handed out to over 150 children along with autographs…
- Breakfast with Santa at Kings Fish House in Carlsbad took place on December 22nd. Over 100 kids were treated to a hot meal and a new toy… This is the 6th year that King's has participated and the 4th year that their Carlsbad location hosted an event…
- Karl & Rhea's “Holiday for Our Youth” was yet another event hosted by AFE along with athlete Karl Wilson and his wife Rhea. The party took place on December 11th at the Lemon Grove Masonic Temple. This event was co-sponsored by the G.A. Thompson Lodge #79, whose members prepared a delicious meal of turkey, mashed potatoes, collard greens and all the “fixins” under the guidance of master chef Frank Palmer. In addition to food and new toys, the 350 children and their families who came were entertained by “Voices of Angels," a youth choir led by Rhea Wilson.
All of these programs are made possible by the generous support of our sponsors. Walt & Elizabeth Smoyer, The Eisenberg Group, A.C., Surgery 1 Centers, Kings Fish House Mission Valley & Carlsbad restaurants, Viejas Enterprises, Bikes for Kids organization (for all the wonderful Bikes), El Pollo Grille were this year's host sponsors; they were joined by the following event hosts,
The other key ingredient to the success of this year's events was the participation of our volunteers. Thank you to all AFE's volunteers who gave of their time during this holiday season to bring joy to kids…
We could not do what we do without our own Santa's, who provide AFE with the great gifts that we get to giveaway. Tom Groff is one of AFE's “angels,” who hosts an annual Holiday party with the price of admission being guests bringing a new toy, which Tom in turn gives to AFE. This year we also had several toy drives over the month of December hosted by: Scott Leggett (Surgery One Centers, Coast, Orthopaedic Surgery Centers and Spine & Sport Physical Therapy offices ) & Lisa Ballard owner of Intero Real Estate Services.
Of course, the greatest reward of these programs is the smiles we bring to so many children's faces during a time of year that can be very difficult for families with economic struggles. We count among our blessings the opportunity to give and to touch young lives during the holiday season. Plans are already underway for our 2008 holiday celebrations; please contact us if you are interested in making a donation, hosting a toy drive and/or volunteering.
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