WALNUT CREEK — Generous readers have contributed more than $220,000 to this news organization’s annual Share the Spirit campaign, which benefits the less fortunate in Contra Costa and Alameda counties.
Even with checks still coming in and no deadline for giving, donations so far appear to be running ahead of last year, according to Tom Tamura of the Contra Costa Crisis Center, which administers the funding program. The outpouring came somewhat as a surprise given the changes in tax laws regarding charitable contributions and a string of statewide disasters that moved local residents to donate — most notably the Camp Fire in Butte County.
During the holiday season, the East Bay Times published stories about some of the many people who got help from nonprofits that receive Share the Spirit grants. In all, grants went to 56 nonprofits from the holiday fundraising program of Bay Area News Group’s East Bay newspapers, led by the East Bay Times.
“It (Share the Spirit) has a multi-fold benefit as it brings awareness to the community of the different programs that are providing services that they may have never heard of,” Tamura said. “Between that and having pictures and the stories, when people are able to hear how the money is benefiting the community, it really warms the heart.”
The East Bay Times featured stories this season on nonprofits such as Loved Twice, which collects clothes for the needy and social service agencies; Opportunity Junction, a job training and placement program; Las Trampas Supported Living Services, which helps people with developmental disabilities lead fuller lives; and Civicorps, a training program that helps people turn their lives around, and more.
“Showing readers what difference their money can make is the East Bay Times’ special contribution to local non-profit fundraising,” said Bert Robinson, managing editor/content for this news organization. “I marvel every year at how our journalists find emotional connections that resonate.”
Now in its 25th year, Share the Spirit is supported by individual, foundation and business contributions, said Dee Dee Robillard, projects coordinator for the Contra Costa Crisis Center. The East Bay Leadership Council recently recognized the effort with an “Outstanding Corporate Philanthropist” award for 2017.
The Dean and Margaret Lesher Foundation has been supporting the program throughout its history, she said, noting it “likes to give early and encourage people to take advantage of its grant as a ‘match’ to double donations up to the first $25,000.”
Share the Spirit also received a large donation from another foundation that wishes to remain anonymous, Robillard said.
Bay Area News Group matches donations to the program, marketing director Olga Mitina said.
Robillard was pleased that some longtime donors increased their contributions this year: one went from $100 to $2,000 and another from $100 to $5,000.
As in past years, numerous people made large donations and many more made “relatively large” ones, according to Robillard.
“One donor had been giving $10 a year for many years, this year upping their donation by a full 30 percent,” Robilliard wrote in an email. “It brought me to tears — many donors are so generous even though they are on fixed income.”
She said some people sent notes with their checks or wrote on the website why they contributed, citing reasons such as “All of your stories were quite well-written and touching w/o being maudlin,” “Love the story about Waik Gan” and “Mothers getting clean for the families.”
“We really enjoy doing this,” Tamura said of the program. “I think it’s marvelous to have 40,000 people benefit and get the ongoing support they can have is really great. It’s rare to let people actually see where the dollars are going. That’s the really neat piece of it.”
To read this year’s stories of the people helped by the nonprofit grants, go to https://www.sharethespiriteastbay.org/
SHARE THE SPIRIT
The Share the Spirit holiday campaign, sponsored by the Bay Area News Group, serves needy residents of Alameda and Contra Costa counties by funding nonprofit holiday and outreach programs.
To make a tax-deductible contribution, clip the coupon accompanying this story or go to www.sharethespiriteastbay.org/donate. Readers with questions, and individuals or businesses interested in making large contributions, may contact the Share the Spirit program at 925-472-5760 or sharethespirit@crisis-center.org.