Our Program

Organization Information

Mission Statement

" To provide a happier holiday to those in need"

Statement from Founder

Hello, thank you so much for your interest in Gift A Kid. Gift A Kid is a Sacramento-based organization founded in 2002. My name is Zachary Somers and I am the Founder and CEO of Gift A Kid. At the age of eleven I was reading of children throughout the nation who significantly impacted their local communities by providing volunteer community service. These teens and children who participate by giving teddy bears to receiving homes and even by cleaning up their community by trash pickups. I was truly inspired to make a change in my community. So, as an eleven year-old I started my foundation Gift A Kid. I stood in front of grocery stores and collected canned food-products and worn toys. After collecting over one-hundred donations, I found a housing-facility for families of low-income status. I felt that this would be the best beneficiary of the donations. After the first couple of days of January I came to the facilities with wrapped, beautiful presents. All of the food, toys, and clothes were laid onto tables. I then experienced what came to motivate me for future years. Forty children and forty adults approached the table and collected the gifts. The smiles of the children opening up presents containing pogo sticks, and the parents collecting food for their families. What I then saw and heard will stick with me for the rest of my life:

As I collected the donations I decided to donate a bag of rice that my family had won every year at our favorite local restaurant. When the bag was set on the tables on particular parent came up and grabbed it, she stated, "Finally we have rice!"

I am filled with hundreds of memories similar to this. Everyday of Gift A Kid I am able to feel great about what I am doing because I physically see the impact I make and the strength and power the community has on helping these families and children.

Previous Successes

In the year 2003: Gift A Kid founded its new recipient, River Oak Center for Children. During this year we collected over 365 total donations and started receiving local sponsorships including collecting bins within local businesses. We also held our small First Annual Banquet and purchased some gifts from local businesses.

In the year 2004: Gift A Kid continued with River Oak collecting over 412 donations. This was the first year purchasing 25 brand new bicycles and helmets with the funding we were provided from local sponsors. We held our Second Annual Banquet inviting many guests to help contribute to our cause. Funding collected: Over $1,000

In the year 2005: Gift A Kid still benefited River Oak and collected over 718 donations including over 50 brand new bicycles with helmets. We also continued to hold our Third Annual Banque at the Fair Oaks Community Clubhouse and provided many guests with an excellent evening while benefiting a great cause. As The number of sponsors soared and we collected over $9,000 including 80 fleece blankets and many great gifts.

In the year 2006: Gift A Kid continued with River Oak and held its First Annual Golf Tournament and raised over $8,000 at the event. We also held our Fourth Annual Banquet at the Maidu Community Center and raised Over $4,000 and had a great event for everyone to enjoy. Gift A Kid also started its planning for a Board of Directors as well as its potential new recipient of a children's hospital. During this year we raised over $13,000 and purchased over 600 donations as well as donated $5,500 towards the Helping Hands Fund at River Oak and $3,000 to the Capital Campaign Fund at River Oak. The Helping Hands is needed to purchase basic necessities for families including: groceries, clothes, and housing. The Capital Campaign is River Oak's largest success which is the building of thier new Residential Facilities. The significant contributions made by our local community to Gift A Kid and River Oak will be remembered forever and we continue to grow year by year.

Organization Overview

Gift A Kid is a non-profit organization dedicated to collecting new toys, clothes, non perishable food products, and school supplies to donate to children of low-income famileis throughout the Sacramento and Placer areas. Gift A Kid's recipient is River Oak Center for Children of Sacramento. River Oak serves over 3,500 children and families each year by providing therapeutic solutions to their behavioral and emotional needs. Typically, each gift donated to Gift A Kid represents the only present a child will recieve during the holidays. Our organization is very unique to that of other causes due to our 100% commitment. We guarantee that 100% of all funding collected by Gift A Kid will go directly towards improving the lives of the needy children of the Sacramento and Placer areas. We are committed to insuring that all funding be used strictly for benefiting the children of low-income families that we serve. There are no employee or staffing costs, no organization fees, and no building fees that we endure. All of our staff and board is volunteer-based.

I am committed to improving low-income children and familie's lives,

Zachary Somers

Founder and CEO of Gift A Kid

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