Eight Year Total Tops $1 Million!

Since its launch in 2000, the fund has grown steadily each year and the aggregate for the eight years is $1,069,000.

What Others Say

"It is important for a civil society to support non-profits by volunteering and by contributing money. I learned long ago that I am not comfortable asking people to contribute money. Fortunately, the annual Town Crier Holiday Fund does the difficult part for us. All we have to do is write a check, which I am happy to do each year because of the many local oranizations the fund serves and supports."
Dr. Richard Henning, Foothill College Celebrity Forum Founder (1968)

2008 Progress Goal 2008

What is the Los Altos Town Crier Holiday Fund?

The Town Crier Holiday Fund was launched in 2000 to raise funds for small hands-on non-profits in Silicon Valley, particularly those serving families and children. Most of the organizations selected use many volunteers, and maintain a high level of efficiency in percentage of funds which actually touch the lives of the needy.

The Holiday Fund raised about $50,000 in its first year and nine organizations were the first beneficiaries. Each year the numbers have grown and in 2007, the fund reached $236,979 which was distributed to 17 different agencies.

All contributions to the Holiday Fund are 100% tax deductible. Silicon Valley Community Foundation (SVCF), based in Mountain View, is our fiscal partner and provides tax receipts to donors who contribute to the fund. The Los Altos Town Crier, as its contribution to this annual effort, pays all promotional, advertising and other administrative fees, including credit card surcharges. New for 2008: SVCF handles all on-line credit card transactions for the Town Crier Holiday Fund.

The Town Crier Holiday Fund uses the model followed by many fundraising efforts. The campaign is launched with significant up-front matching grants from foundations and individuals which in turn has been more than matched each year by community donors. In 2007, the total "challenge fund" was $115,000 which was leveraged into the aggregate total of $236,979.