I just wanted to take this time to write to you, and to thank the Malibu community for all of its hard work and caring and love this holiday season, to help the homeless and at-risk children and families we care for throughout the year.
Christmas was made brighter for L.A.’s homeless and at-risk children by friends and volunteers of the Children’s Lifesaving Foundation, who along with Malibu friends John and Ellen Poyer, Joe and Pam Wirht, the Malibu Kiwanis Club, Bob and Nancy Salka, Dynasty Fashions and Topson-Downs of California (and their wonderful co-workers), held amazing holiday parties at Juan Cabrillo Elementary School. We were thrilled to have all of these friends as both sponsors and very energetic volunteers. Alexandria May of Alexandria’s Topiaries sponsored the art project by making beautiful holiday frames for the children’s Polaroids with Santa, Lisa and Bill Curtis of Malibu bought wonderful gifts for special Adopt-A-Family children, and some very special Angels sponsored families through our Adopt-A-Family Program. DreamWorks’ employees, local Malibu families, Pastor Eric Schaeffer of Pacific Palisades Presbyterian Church and his youth group also volunteered. Additional parties were sponsored by CLF friends from Tarzana the Weinsteins and Mike Rosen of California Supply, and the Michaels Family of Kayo of California.
Mrs. Abrahams’ fourth-grade class at Webster adopted five families this Christmas, buying them every single request on their list! The children were a huge help this Christmas to our Adopt-A-Family Program. Deborah Granoff’s class at Webster School made beautiful personalized Christmas cards for the gift bags and a beautiful poster for the children.
Over 600 children were treated to these spectacular Holiday events, complete with beautiful decorations, Santa Claus himself, a live deejay and raffles, and a personalized gift bag, filled with seven to eight wrapped gifts of new clothes, new shoes, candy and toys. The children and families of Juan Cabrillo School, Malibu High, Point Dume Elementary School, Children’s Creative Workshop, Webster School, Wonder Years Daycare and friends at Toy Crazy ran wonderful toy drives that were fantastic. The whole community rallied together, including 98% Angel, who donated some lovely children’s clothes, and Bernard at Clarisse Beauty, who donated bags full of women’s toiletries and cosmetics, to volunteer their efforts to make this the best holiday ever for these very deserving children, who would not have received any gifts this Christmas Day. A wonderful time was had by all, and over 7,000 gifts were collected.
On Christmas Day, volunteers and friends of the CLF gathered at the Venice Pavilion to give out brand new clothing, toys, shoes and toiletries. The clothing was donated by Topson-Downs and Kayo of California, shoes by Reebok, Int’l., toiletries by Aware Products and hair accessories by Scunci, and a U-Haul filled with toys donated by Aardman Films, Disney, DreamWorks, Hasbro, Mattel and Warner Brothers. DreamWorks volunteers and Malibu locals Walter and Ellen Young also participated. Gerry Engel, Sandra Black and Rosalie Fagelson from Supercare Drugs, who also generously donated money, volunteered their time as well. It was a wonderful day, where hundreds of homeless children and their families gathered to enjoy their gifts from us, and a free meal from the Bible Tabernacle Mission.
Other wonderful friends who were a huge help and support this season were Malibuites Norm and Shirlee Klein, and official photographer Lois Globnik; Mark Kramer, Tamara Montana and family, Janine McEuen, Janna Pekkanen, David Silverstein, Marcy Smith and family, Stacey Thompson and family, and wonderful actors John and Cathy Cygan and Jack McGee. KTLA Channel 5 Charities made a wonderful holiday donation, as did several other very loving angels.
We thank you all for your great love and support, and for making our work such a joy this holiday season. We couldn’t have done it without you! Our very special thanks goes out to all of our wonderful sponsors, who continue to sponsor these lovely holiday parties each year. I hope the year 2000 brings you all the joy, happiness and prosperity that you deserve.
You may call the Children’s Lifesaving Foundation at 310.457.6166 if you are interested in adopting a homeless family for the New Year.
Our sincerest gratitude, thanks and love,
Maria D’Angelo, president
The Children’s Lifesaving Foundation