CFA Brings Springtime Cheer to 217 Children in Need in 2022
During the spring season, the Children’s Foundation of America (CFA) provides spring baskets for foster youth and children in need. This year a total of 217 baskets were assembled to bring cheer to foster youth and children in need.
Volunteers Karen Valente and Tamera Guarnieri assembled spring goodie bags made possible by board members Sheri Nagel and Carla Kingsbury, as well as Image Source, who provided the candy. Our volunteers filled the goodie bags with candy, mini coloring books, crayons, games, fruit snacks, and candy. In addition to the goodie bags, our community partners at Claremont Toyota provided several spring baskets filled with candy, games, stuffed animals and more.
Thanks to an anonymous donor, we were able to provide Easter weekend activities for youth living in group homes. These youth got to have an egg hunt, a special meal on campus, an outing at Castlepark Amusement Park, dinner at BJ’s, received fast food gift cards, participated in flying kites, photo booth and playing games.
Through this successful campaign, CFA served Purposely Chosen, Inc, an organization located in the Riverside who serves at risk youth and teen mothers and Trinity Youth Services (TYS) Short-Term Residential Therapeutic Programs (STRTP) in Apple Valley and Yucaipa, as well as their foster care services in Monterey Park and Rancho Cucamonga.
“Thank you to the Children’s Foundation of America for the goody bags and funding our Easter weekend activities,” said TYS STRTP Director Elizabeth Tamoush.
A big thank you to everyone who helped make a difference this springtime season! The memories made by the youth will not soon be forgotten and mean so much.
Briana Calderon, Volunteer Coordinator
Briana leads our volunteer program through various campaigns and volunteer activities year round. Briana describes her responsibility as helping to create a space for everyone to come volunteer and find community in serving a greater purpose than our own. Briana graduated with a bachelor’s degree in communication with a focus on public relations at California State University San Bernardino. During her time at CSUSB, she was a student recruiter and tour guide. Having enjoyed her experience working with students and public speaking, working with volunteers seemed like a natural step. Briana has helped advance our volunteer systems with technology and provided virtual volunteer opportunities when possible. In addition to her position at CFA, Briana also serves on the Diversity, Inclusion, Value, Equity (DIVE) team.
425 Foster Youth Receive Spring Goodie Baskets
Thanks to the support of our business partners and volunteers, the Children’s Foundation of America provided 425 foster youth with Spring Goodie Baskets this year.
Volunteers from Anthesis and the community distributed all sorts of goodies donated by our business partners including Sysco Riverside, who donated hundreds of candy bars! Children in foster care, residential programs, at risk youth centers, and veterans homes for families were supported through this campaign.
This year, the Children’s Foundation of America was able to support five organizations with Spring Goodie Baskets including Trinity Youth Services, Upland Unified School District, Mt. Rubidoux Church Foster Resource Program, San Bernardino City Unified School District Equity & Targeted Student Achievement, and Liberty Village Beaumont.
From volunteering to donating, there are many ways to support children in need! Visit our Get Involved page to learn more.
Jenelle Phillips, Development Specialist
Jenelle oversees the day-to-day operations and staffing of the Foundation, which includes fundraising events, volunteer coordination, community outreach and donations. Above all, Jenelle’s focus is to identify and access resources in order to help children heal, learn and thrive. She earned a bachelor’s degree in communications from California State University Fullerton and has become very involved in the community. She is active in her church, owns an art gallery, organizes the local art walk and is on the executive board of the downtown district’s marketing group.