Seedlings

Coming off the tail end of a once-in-a-lifetime pandemic (we certainly hope), we set a goal of getting 40,000 gifts into the hands of our Bay Area neighbors who are facing financial hardships.  But today, we are elated to share that with the help of so many amazing people, friends of the tree, both new and old, we blew past that number!

In the end, we were able to distribute over 56,000 gifts this past holiday season. That’s 56,000 days brightened. 56,000 loads lightened. 56,000 spirits lifted. And 56,000 more smiles gifted.

But we couldn’t have done this alone. The 2022 Holiday Wish Drive saw more than 1600 volunteers lend a hand in the warehouse. All sharing in the joy of spreading joy. If you were able to make it in, we want to express our endless gratitude. We are a MIGHTY, but small team here at FGT, and we couldn’t get these gifts out without your help.

We also had an amazing time at each of the 15 wrapping parties hosted by corporate supporters this season. Collectively, your hard work (fueled by holiday snacks) resulted in bringing joy to over 4,300 little ones. Just think of their faces when they opened that masterfully, or, in some cases, uniquely wrapped gift. All paper tears the same anyhow. Thank you for spending a day with us.

There were an outstanding 391 drive leaders who gathered nearly 25,000 physical gifts this season. Imagine, for a moment, how much 25,000 gifts must weigh. We’d wager anywhere between 10,000 and 20,000 pounds. It’s just too bad the happiness they brought couldn’t be weighed because it was immeasurable. 

We even had help from San Jose’s own superstar, WWE’s Bayley, who led a toy drive and gathered over 450 physical gifts and over $15,000 in donations! We want to give her a huge hug for all that she’s done but she’s traveling the country, bringing smiles (and SmackDowns) in her own way at the moment. We’ll catch her when she gets home. 

And finally, to our magnificent Holiday Wish Drive Sponsors, Elcor Electric, Samsung, SC Builders, NetApp, Wisk, and Alphawave IP, thank you for being the wind beneath our wings. It’s hard coming back from these past few unprecedented years. But with your help, we know that we will be able to uplift our Bay Area neighbors for years, and years to come. 

Shoot, why not just say decades?? Because Family Giving Tree is always going to be here to lend a helping hand and make sure that everyone in the Bay Area can stand in their own greatness. 

Enjoy flipping through some highlights from the drive and expressions of thanks from our agency partners and recipients in the Holiday Wish Drive 2022 Scrapbook, and video captured from this eventful season of giving!