Tuesday, December 3, 2013

Sharing the Spirit Holiday Party!

Festival of Children Foundation and The Happiness Project are bringing some holiday cheer to 600 underprivileged children at a Christmas Party being organized just for them on Friday, December 6th at South Coast Plaza.

The event, called "Sharing the Spirit Holiday Party," will take place in Santa's Village at South Coast Plaza from 9:00 p.m. until midnight (after the center closes to regular business).  Homeless youth, ages 5-16, from Anaheim, Costa Mesa, Garden Grove and Santa Ana, California will be brought on buses to the shopping center.  As each child departs the bus they'll be matched with a volunteer who will accompany them through a variety of activities including photos with Santa, rides on the reindeer carousel, arts and crafts, nail, hair and makeup stations, and face painting.  They'll enjoy food generously donated by Aloha Plate (the recent winner of Food Network's Great Food Truck Race), Chick-Fil-A, Creme de la Creme, Quattro Caffe and whole Foods Market Newport Beach.

South Coast Plaza retailers are "Sharing the Spirit" too.  Sanrio's Hello Kitty will help supervise their sand painting craft table.  At LEGO, children can build a LEGO mini model to take home with them.  Puzzle Zoo is providing craft projects for boys and girls, and Calico Critters' Bell Hopscotch rabbit will meet the kids in attendance.


Bare Minerals makeup artists will offer some holiday sparkle for the girls, and the Microsoft store will set up Xbox and Kinect stations.  400 volunteers will be on hand to ensure that the event is a success.

Festival of Children Foundation would like to thank the Center for Living Peace for helping to sponsor the "Sharing the Spirit" holiday party.

Tuesday, November 19, 2013

Festival of Children Foundation raises $208,575 for Orange County Children's Charities

Providence Speech and Hearing Center riders
Festival of Children Foundation invited 10 Orange County nonprofit organizations to fund raise at a signature event we call "The Carousel of Possible Dreams."  Over 100 attendees cheered volunteer riders as they went round and round, and up and down, on King Arthur's Carrousel at Disneyland Resort to raise money for their organizations.

The early morning event, held on November 6th at 7:00 a.m., raised $208,575.  Funds raised will go directly to these 10 organizations:

All American Boys Chorus
America on Track
Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, Orange County
Festival of Children Foundation
Girls Incorporated of Orange County
Make-A-Wish Orange County & The Inland Empire
Pacific Symphony
Pretend City Children's Museum
Providence Speech and Hearing Center
Wyland Foundation

The Carousel of Possible Dreams fundraiser was held in celebration of Festival of Children Foundation's 10th Anniversary.  "How fitting to host Carousel of Possible Dreams at the place where dreams come true every day," said Jill Bolton, director, Community Relations, Disneyland Resort.  "We are honored to host this program, which aligns with our focus on promoting the happiness and well-being of kids and families."

Girls Inc. of Orange County volunteer riders


Wednesday, October 16, 2013

We're going to Disneyland!




Festival of Children Foundation is celebrating its 10th anniversary at the happiest place on earth .... Disneyland. To help us celebrate, 10 children's charities will participate in The Carousel of Possible Dreams aboard  King Arthur's Carrousel at the Disneyland Resort in Anaheim on November 6th from 7-9am.

Participating charities include:

All-American Boys Chorus
America on Track
Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, Orange County
Festival of Children Foundation
Girls Incorporated of Orange County
Make-A-Wish Orange County & the Inland Empire
Pacific Symphony
Pretend City Children's Museum
Providence Speech and Hearing Center
Wyland Foundation

Each of these nonprofit organizations has assembled a team of riders ready to take the reins and raise money for their charity's individual dreams.  To learn more about what monies raised will support, or to make an online donation, we invite you to visit www.ridethecarousel.org   

Festival of Children Foundation would like to thank the Disneyland Resort for making their magnificent King Arthur Carrousel available for our Possible Dream fundraiser.  This is the first time Disneyland's Carrousel has been utilized as a vehicle to raise funds for 10 Orange County children's charities! 

Friday, October 4, 2013

Meet the National Child Awareness Month Youth Ambassadors!



Festival of Children Foundation has once again collaborated with YSA on the National Child Awareness Month Youth Ambassador Program.  The year-long Ambassadorship trains youth (ages 16-22) to combat critical issues facing children.  Each Ambassador receives support, advocacy training in Washington, D.C. and planning guidance for their respective service projects.

Fifty-one Youth Ambassadors were selected through a competitive application process, and selected, one per state and the District of Columbia, to create a powerful network of young people who raise their collective voice in service to others. 

The Youth Ambassadors (shown above) each received an all-expense paid, 3-day leadership training in Washington, D.C. and a $1,000 grant to support their service projects in their own communities.  "These teens and young adults are the future of philanthropy," said Sandy Segerstrom Daniels, founder and executive director of Festival of Children Foundation.

The young leaders will spend the year ahead developing and leading cause-related service projects focused on children's issues in their respective communities.  Their issue areas are diverse and specific to the community - from access to educational opportunities to addressing bullying - but their mission is shared:  to create change which raises awareness and positively impacts the lives of young people! 

Monday, September 9, 2013

Shining a spotlight on children's charities during Festival of Children at South Coast Plaza!





Childhelp Orange County Chapter is just one of over 50 children's charities that will be on site during Festival of Children at South Coast Plaza this September.  Every weekend in September, families can participate in more than 100 events and learn about child-focused charitable groups. 

Activities include arts and crafts, singing and dance performances, and more.  Visitors can also check out Canstruction OC's giant fantasy structures made entirely out of canned foods.

This September is special, as we also celebrate National Child Awareness Month (NCAM).  NCAM is an effort led by Festival of Children Foundation to focus the attention of our nation on the most critical issues facing children today.

This month, and all year long, we're proud to shine a spotlight on children and the nonprofit organizations that serve them. 

So make plans to bring the entire family to Festival of Children this month.  All of the events are free to the public.  For a schedule, visit www.festivalofchildren.org

Tuesday, August 27, 2013

Carousel of Possible Dreams raises $150,309 for Chicago Kids



On Saturday, August 3rd, over 180 attendees (including Ronald McDonald!) climbed aboard a 19th Century French carousel to raise $150,309 for Ronald McDonald House Charities of Chicagoland & Northwest Indiana and St. Jude Children's Research Hospital.

"It was a nice intersection of friend-raising, fundraising and people working together all at an unbelievable estate," said Doug Porter, CEO of Ronald McDonald House Charities of Chicagoland & Northwest Indiana (shown above with Sandy Segerstrom Daniels and you know who).

The Sanfilippo Estate in Barrington Hills, IL was the site of Festival of Children Foundation's most recent Carousel of Possible Dreams fundraiser.  The Carousel of Possible Dreams is an innovative fundraiser of Festival of Children Foundation.  "The concept of the Carousel of Possible Dreams is at the heart of Festival of Children Foundation.  It's about people coming together collaboratively to make a positive difference for kids.  Festival of Children Foundation supports children's charities across the country, including some extraordinary organizations in the Chicago area," added Sandy Segerstrom Daniels, Founder and Executive Director of Festival of Children Foundation.

Thursday, July 18, 2013

The Carousel of Possible Dreams puts the "FUN" in Fundraising!



Festival of Children Foundation is proud to partner with the Sanfilippo Foundation in Chicago to present The Carousel of Possible Dreams on Saturday, August 3rd.  This unique carousel fundraiser will benefit Ronald McDonald House Charities of Chicagoland & Northwest Indiana and St. Jude Children's Research Hospital.

Chicago civic, business and philanthropic leaders will test their fundraising prowess aboard the Eden Palais, a spectacular 19th Century European Salon Carousel housed at the private Sanfilippo Estate in Barrington Hills, Illinois.   Armed only with their cell phones, riders will dial for donations as they go round and round and up and down on the carousel.  Riders will not be allowed off the carousel until they've achieved their fundraising goals for the charities.  100% of money raised will go directly to the nonprofit organizations.  How long it takes is up to the riders! 

The goal is to raise $300,000 for these two children's organizations.  We invite you to visit www.festivalofchildren.org for information on how you can help support this unique fundraiser.  



Friday, June 21, 2013

Senate Resolution 173 designates September 2013 as National Child Awareness Month

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It's official!  September 2013 has been declared National Child Awareness Month by the U.S. Senate!  Senate Resolution 173 was unanimously passed on June 18, 2013.

Festival of Children Foundation is proud to have once again succeeded in its efforts to promote awareness of children's charities and youth-serving organizations across the United States.  2013 is the 6th consecutive year this effort has been led by Sandy Segerstrom Daniels, founder and executive director of Festival of Children Foundation.

We'd like to thank Senator Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) and her five cosponsors, Richard Burr (R-NC), Thomas Coburn (R-OK), Richard Durbin (D-IL), Michael Enzi (R-WY) and Patty Murray (D-WA). 

If you'd like to read more details about Senate Resolution 173, we invite you to click on:



Wednesday, May 15, 2013

InStyle Magazine Event at Longchamp Boutique benefits Festival of Children Foundation







InStyle Magazine and Longchamp recently partnered for an exclusive shopping night at South Coast Plaza.  The event was co-hosted by Sandy Segerstrom Daniels, founder of Festival of Children Foundation, and Jennifer Grace, founder of the Native Fox blog.   Guests enjoyed complimentary mini-manicures inspired by Longchamp's LM Cuir collection of colorful spring bags.

And the great takeaway? 

Longchamp and InStyle Magazine generously donated a portion of proceeds from the event to Festival of Children Foundation!



Thursday, May 2, 2013

Kids of all ages turn out to write 507 letters to U.S. troops in one afternoon!


Festival of Children Foundation and Team Kids collaborated on "Letters from Home" on Saturday, April 27th.  The afternoon was designed to recognize Global Youth Service Day with a goal to set the record for the most cards written to U.S. troops in one afternoon. 

Kids of all ages were invited to South Coast Plaza's Carousel Court where they were given art supplies and paper to create their letters.  507 letters were written in a four hour window of time.

"I know first hand how incredible it is to receive mail from when I was deployed in Iraq," said Team Kids Program Director Jamie "Doc" Havig.  "Nothing raises the spirits of our troops like a hand written letter from a child!"

"This project mobilized children from California to Virginia to send much deserved messages of appreciation to our troops serving abroad," said Team Kids Founder and CEO Julie Hudash.  "Our collaboration with Team Kids resulted in a record setting afternoon that benefits our troops.  That's very exciting!" added Sandy Segerstrom Daniels, Founder and Executive Director of Festival of Children Foundation.

Tuesday, April 16, 2013

Celebrate Global Youth Service Day by helping us "Stuff the Bus" for our troops!


In celebration of Global Youth Service Day kids and their families are invited to join Festival of Children Foundation and Team Kids for "Letters from Home," an afternoon designed to set the record for the most cards written to our troops in one afternoon.

Kids of all ages will meet in South Coast Plaza's Carousel Court and be given art supplies to create their cards.  The goal is to "stuff the bus" - Team Kids' little military bus - which will be parked out at the Z'Tejas restaurant entrance off of Bristol Street.  Operation Gratitude will handle distributing the cards to the troops. 

The day will conclude with a Presidential Award being given to middle school and high school members of the Team Kids Youth Council for outstanding service.  Uniformed soldiers and officers will also be on hand for photo opportunities and to interact with the crowd.

We look forward to seeing you on Saturday, April 27th from Noon - 4:00 p.m. at South Coast Plaza's Carousel Court.  3333 Bristol Street, Costa Mesa, CA  92626

For more information about our collaborators visit www.gysd.org, www.teamkids.org and www.operationgratitude.org

Or telephone (714) 438-3286.

Tuesday, March 5, 2013

The Possible Dream Makes Dreams Come True

Representatives from 10 Orange County children's charities join Sandy Segerstrom Daniels at
The Possible Dream check presentation ceremony held March 1, 2013 at The Capital Grille restaurant at South Coast Plaza.

Festival of Children Foundation recently awarded $60,000 in grant money to 10 Orange County children's charities as part of The Possible Dream 2013 grant program.

All of Festival of Children Foundation's Orange County-based member organizations were invited to apply for the grant money.  A panel of six diverse judges reviewed 48 applications.  Proposals were evaluated based on the following criteria:

Need
Innovation & Creativity
Assessment of Outcomes
Cost Effectiveness
Strength of Collaboration

After careful consideration, the following children's charities were selected to receive grants based on their dreams:

America on Track (Santa Ana)
Boys & Girls Clubs of Huntington Valley (Huntington Beach & Fountain Valley)
Down Syndrome Association of Orange County (Costa Mesa)
Families Forward (Irvine)
Family Support Network (Fullerton)
Hands Together (Santa Ana)
Orange County Children's Therapeutic Arts Center (Santa Ana)
Boys & Girls Clubs of Anaheim (Anaheim)
United Cerebral Palsy of Orange County (Irvine)

"These member organizations submitted proposals for tangible, measurable, collaborative projects that will improve the lives of children.  We hope this grant money will help these ten dynamic nonprofits achieve their dreams to the very fullest of its potential,"  said Sandy Segerstrom Daniels, Founder & Executive Director of Festival of Children Foundation.



Tuesday, January 29, 2013

Riding for Charity Dollars

On Saturday, August 3, 2013, a 19th Century French carousel will serve as a fundraising machine for Festival of Children Foundation's signature fundraiser "Carousel of Possible Dreams" benefiting Ronald McDonald House Charities of Chicagoland & Northwest Indiana and St. Jude Children's Research Hospital.  Riders will raise funds using their cellphones while riding the Eden Palais Carousel located on the Salfilippo Estate in Barrington Hills, Illinois.

For more information, visit www.festivalofchildren.org.