CharityWorks Holiday Gift Giving Fund

In 2007 the Holiday Gift Giving Fund (“Holiday Fund”) was established to:
1) encourage people to give during the holiday season,
2) leverage charitable gifts purchased for underprivileged children,
3) strengthen relationships between local retailers and children’s charities, and
4) promote volunteerism during the holiday season. The Holiday Fund distributed clothes, toys and other gifts valued at $10,687 to needy families and children’s charities in Pinellas County, Florida.

The programs and services of Charity Works are designed to promote a more efficient cycle of giving by developing relationships among and between donors, vendors and nonprofits. The Holiday Fund is another example of this collaborative effort.

Objectives

• To encourage people to give during the holiday season
• Leverage charitable gifts purchased for children in need
• Strengthen relationships between local retailers and charities that serve children
• Promote volunteerism during the holiday season

Strategies

• Focus on underprivileged children during the holiday season
• Appeal to local businesses to participate in an effective gift-giving program—buy tax free and achieve larger discounts for charitable gifts
• Engage local retailers and shopping centers to increase store traffic and gain positive exposure from media coverage of this community-based gift giving program
• Include retail stores in the State of Florida during the test marketing period

Time

• Holiday season shopping from September 15, 2008 through December 31, 2008
• Fundraising efforts continuous throughout the year

Targeted Retail Merchants for Gift Shopping

• Bealls, Dillard’s, JC Penney, Kohl’s, Ross, Sears, Sports Authority, Target, Toys R Us, Walgreens, Wal-Mart, and others.

Volunteer Shoppers—Requirements & Rewards

• Be at least 18 years of age and hold a valid driver's license
• Sign an agreement with Charity Works to serve as its volunteer/agent for specific duties under the Fund
• Qualify and receive access to Charity Works’ CaringPerks#® rewards program

Request of Children’s Charities

• Sign letter of agreement to participate in the Fund
• Provide wish lists of eligible children
• Comply with privacy laws
• Designate one person (at a minimum) to register as a volunteer shopper