Local family gives $100,000 to Holiday Fund

A Palo Alto family has made a $100,000 donation to the Palo Alto Weekly Holiday Fund in hopes of inspiring other donors to join them in supporting local programs for kids and families.

The gift is from a family foundation that wishes to remain anonymous and that has made similar gifts for each of the last eight years.

This year’s repeat donation will be used to match the contributions of other donors with the aim of encouraging additional giving from readers of the Weekly.

“This generous Palo Alto family believes strongly in the mission of the Holiday Fund and the efficiency with which we are able to assist many local nonprofits,” Palo Alto Weekly publisher Bill Johnson said.

Since the Weekly and Silicon Valley Community Foundation absorb all the costs of the program, every dollar that is donated is distributed without any overhead or expenses deducted.

In a statement accompanying the donation, the donors stressed their desire to support local causes.

“We grew up in Palo Alto and have always appreciated the extraordinary services provided by the city, the schools and the many community-based organizations. We want to support these efforts, and the Holiday Fund is a superb way to do that,” the family said.

Over the last 24 years, the Holiday Fund has raised and distributed more than $7 million to local nonprofits.

The Holiday Fund program has enjoyed ongoing support from the Packard and Hewlett foundations, the Peery and Arrillaga foundations and several other family foundations. The annual Palo Alto Weekly Moonlight Run, which has grown to become one of Palo Alto’s largest community events, raises money for the Holiday Fund.

This year’s Holiday Fund goal is to raise $400,000 for programs serving kids, families and others in need. More stories about the work of funded nonprofit agencies and instructions for donating to the fund online are posted here.