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A total of $270,000 in grants, scholarships and awards were presented Thursday evening at the Palo Alto Weekly's 15th annual Holiday Fund grant-recipient reception.

This year's fundraising effort raised $253,000, including $35,000 in proceeds from the Weekly's annual Moonlight Run in the Palo Alto baylands last October. Donations from 450 donors were matched by funds from longtime supporting foundations: the William & Flora Hewlett Foundation, the David & Lucile Packard Foundation and the Peery & Arrillaga family foundations.

Additional funds came from $15,000 returned from an earlier grant recipient that wasn't able to implement the program that had been funded, according to Amy Renalds, assistant to the publisher and coordinator of the Holiday Fund program.

The grants are awarded each April at a reception at the Weekly in downtown Palo Alto.

Featured speakers this year were Philippe Rey, executive director of Adolescent Counseling Services; Christine Burroughs, executive director of InnVision, which operates the Opportunity Center in Palo Alto; and Leeor Neta, program director of East Palo Alto Youth Court.

Most grants are moderate-sized and awarded based on the potential for expanding or enhancing programs of local nonprofit organizations that serve children, youth and families. In addition, $8,000 is awarded to high school graduates as college scholarships, and $2,000 is awarded to high school students at Gunn, Palo Alto, Menlo-Atherton and Woodside high schools to recognize community-service efforts.

Food was donated by Whole Foods market and music provided by the Palo Alto Chamber Orchestra at the 5:30 to 7 p.m. reception.

View a complete list of winners.

— Palo Alto Online staff