Festival of Children Foundation

Put Heart In Everything You Do

2012-01-31T10:34:00.000-08:00

Did you know that February is American Heart Month?

Festival of Children Foundation wants to empower kids to live a healthy life and have a good HEART. We can accomplish this by teaching our children:

H: Humility

E: Empathy

A: Appreciation

R: Resilience

T: Tenacity

Make a pledge to put heart into everything you do. Donate. Volunteer in your area. Join a cause and be an advocate. Get involved and share your story on our Facebook page.

Happy Valentine's Day from your friends at Festival of Children Foundation!

Who Encouraged You?

2012-01-09T16:18:00.001-08:00

When you were a child or young adult, was there someone in your life who encouraged you, showed you the ropes and helped you become who you are today? That person was a mentor to you.

January is National Mentoring Month. National Mentoring Month focuses national attention on the need for mentors, as well as how each of us can work together to increase the number of mentors to assure brighter futures for our young people.

According to the National Center on Secondary Education and Transition, children between the ages of 12 through 17 are within the developmental stage most able to best absorb and benefit from the skills of a mentor.

View our list of Festival of Children Foundation's member organizations that offer mentoring programs in your community.

Make your New Year's resolution to get involved and be a mentor!

Sandy Segerstrom Daniels honored by OC METRO Magazine

2011-11-03T10:52:00.001-07:00

On Tuesday, November 1, 2011, OC METRO magazine honored Orange County's Hottest 25 People of 2011. Sandy Segerstrom Daniels, founder and executive director of Festival of Children Foundation, was one of this year's honorees. Sandy was behind the effort that led the U.S. Senate to recognize September 2011 as National Child Awareness Month.

"These are Orange County's movers and shakers - the people shaping business, social, educational and philanthropic circles throughout Orange County," said Steve Churm, CEO of Churm Media and publisher of OC METRO. http://www.ocmetro.com

Congratulations Sandy!

Carousel of Possible Dreams

2011-06-07T13:51:00.000-07:00

On Tuesday, May 3, people from around Orange County, CA hopped onboard the carousel at South Coast Plaza retail center to raise funds for innovative therapeutic horse-related programs that assist children in overcoming obstacles - from physical and mental disabilities to deep emotional issues. 100% of the proceeds from this event, which raised over $56,000, will go to two of our member organizations, J.F. Shea Therapeutic Riding Center and Mustard Seed Ranch.

You can still help us turn dreams into reality today! Learn More

Giving Gifts of Love and Happiness

2011-05-09T15:04:00.001-07:00

When buses arrived at South Coast Plaza retail center after business hours on December 10th, 350 homeless and motel children from around Orange County, CA stepped out to join a gathering of happiness, charity and holiday cheer.

A collaborative effort hosted by Festival of Children Foundation, South Coast Plaza, YPO Southern California Chapter and The Happiness Project, “Gifts of Love” gave children a chance to be a VIP this holiday season. As each child departed the bus they were matched with a volunteer helped them navigate the various activities. From visits with Santa to unlimited rides on the reindeer carousel, to arts and crafts and delicious food provided by Wahoo’s Fish Taco and Z Pizza, the children were given the Christmas they truly deserved. A teen lounge equipped with video games and music was available for the older children, and every child in attendance received a special gift bag tailored to their age group and gender.

“The opportunity to host this event and visit the shelters and motels has opened our children’s eyes to the very real issue of homelessness here in Orange County. Hopefully this holiday experience of giving to others will motivate children and adults alike to continue to make a difference in our community throughout the year,” said Brian Murphy, President of Athletes First and a member of YPO Southern California Chapter. We graciously thank the 200 volunteers who gave of their time, and the dozens of individuals and businesses that came together with donations and financial support to provide a magical evening for children in our own community.

Spreading Holiday Cheer From East to West

2011-05-09T15:01:00.000-07:00

What do you get when you send Julius the Monkey on a cross-country tour to spread a little holiday cheer? Milk, cookies, candy canes, and hundreds of books for kids who need them the most! Festival of Children Foundation partnered with Paul Frank Industries this holiday season on a six-stop tour, where patrons got to enjoy holiday treats, as well as a 20% discount in the store with a donation of any new or gently-used book. We then distributed the collected books to our member charities that promote literacy in those six cities:
•Edgewood Center for Children & Families (San Francisco, CA)
•First Book (Las Vegas, NV)
•Orange County Children’s Therapeutic Arts Center (Santa Ana, CA)
•Screen Actors Guild Foundation (Los Angeles, CA)
•Children of the City (New York, NY)
•Working in the Schools (Chicago, IL)

The Fundamentals of Grant Proposals: A Seminar

2011-05-09T14:59:00.000-07:00

When Festival of Children Foundation brings together executives from 29 different charities in one room to discuss the fundamentals of grant proposals, ideas are developed, friendships are made, and valuable information is shared freely. Fundraising expert Melissa Brown joined us from the Center on Philanthropy at Indiana University to lead the collaborative discussion as part of our Executive Training Seminar series. She provided valuable information pertaining to the steps of proposal development, including linking project goals to community need, matching projects to funders’ interests, preparing a budget, and writing effectively for proposal review.
Nonprofit executives left feeling energized and empowered to approach the often overwhelming world of grant writing. “I feel confident that what Melissa taught me today will make a ‘leaps and bounds’ difference in my ability to write grant proposals for our organization,” wrote Marie Gentosi of Assistance League Newport-Mesa.
The seminar was provided at no cost to member organizations, thanks to the generous support of The Allergan Foundation.

Connecting Children, Charities and Communities

2010-09-22T10:37:00.000-07:00

What a fantastic celebration of childhood we've had this September! Festival of Children is in full swing, with one weekend left to go - and it has been an all-around astounding success. Our participating charities and performers are reaching so many new people, spreading the word about their organizations, and recruiting new donors and volunteers. We couldn't ask for more!

We hope you'll come visit us if you're in the area for our final weekend, as we close out the month and move on to Season of Caring Presents The Possible Dream, our annual grant-making program.

A Celebration for Children All Over America!

2010-06-23T10:15:00.000-07:00

We wanted to share some good news with you!

On June 7, over 1,000 mayors from around the country gathered in Oklahoma City for the United States Conference of Mayors. Santa Ana Mayor Miguel Pulido introduced a resolution to the conference on behalf of Festival of Children Foundation, and as a result, the conference resolved to designate September National Child Awareness Month!

SEE IT HERE!

A few members of our staff just returned from Washington, DC where we met with local Members of Congress and state senators to encourage their support of National Child Awareness Month at the federal level. We eagerly await the passing of these resolutions in Congress and the Senate, which are expected to be introduced in the weeks ahead. This would be the third year in a row that the legislation is recognized for the entire month.

If you want more information on National Child Awareness Month, visit www.nationalchildawarenessmonth.org.

Stay tuned! And hey, thanks for your continued support of our efforts!

Taking the Nation's Capitol by Storm!

2010-06-09T11:47:00.000-07:00

On Monday, part of the Festival of Children Foundation team will head to our nation's Capitol, Washington, DC to lobby for our political leaders' support of National Child Awareness Month. We'll meet with several congressmen and congresswoman, state senators and other "movers and shakers" to garner their endorsements of this monthlong celebration of children.

This will be the third year in a row that we're granted the designation of National Child Awareness Month and it will provide a platform to turn the nation's attention to children for the entire month of September! If you're a charity, a business, or just someone who cares about children, you can help us celebrate! To learn how you can get more involved, visit www.nationalchildawarenessmonth.org.

FREE Legal Counsel for YOUR Organization

2010-06-02T10:00:00.000-07:00

Attention Member Organizations!

Did you know that, in collaboration with two renowned law firms, Festival of Children Foundation offers pro bono legal services to our member organizations nationwide?

Our friends at Seyfarth Shaw LLP and Latham & Watkins are working to put the limited resources of children's charities back to work for the kids. This means that, if your organization meets the minimum requirements of what these firms can offer in their pro bono programs, your legal issues can be resolved at no cost.

We invite you to apply for free legal counsel on matters including corporate governance, your tax-exempt status, human resources, intellectual property, real estate and lease issues, and more. Please contact us directly by sending an email to tpodlas@festivalofchildren.org with your specific request and we will determine which law firm best fits your needs.

"At Seyfarth Shaw, we are always looking for innovative ways to expand our pro bono program. Partnering with Festival of Children Foundation allows us the potential to provide pro bono legal services to a much larger group of deserving children's charities than if we had tried to find and approach each group separately," remarked Allegra Rich, Pro Bono & Philanthropy Partner at Seyfarth Shaw LLP.

We hope you can take advantage of this exciting resource, and we thank our pro bono legal service partners for their commitment to helping improve the lives of children.

Summer Webinars

2010-05-18T11:00:00.000-07:00

You've probably heard us mention our wonderful partnership with Achieve Guidance, a firm that provides guidance, resources, and success strategies to nonprofits across the country. This summer, if you're a member of Festival of Children Foundation, you have access to informational webinars presented by their outstanding consultants. We promise you'll enjoy this series! You can log in to Achieve's website to register in advance; just let us know if you're missing a username and password.

Managing Forms of Capital
06/08/2010 12:00pm
Mention “capital” and it often conjures up images of financial capital, yet this is only one of a number of types of capital necessary for running an effective organization. Learn about the different types of capital and how the most successful organizations maximize their use of all of the diverse types of capital at their disposal.
Presented by Derrick Feldmann
12pm Eastern, 11am Central, 10am Mountain, 9am Pacific

Developing Effective Messaging
07/13/2010 12:00pm
Why does it always seem like the same organizations have awesome messages? Does it mean they’ve spent thousands on a creative firm? Not always. Learn the processes used by public relations and marketing professionals for successfully accomplishing the daunting task of developing effective messaging.
Presented by Derrick Feldmann and John Thomas
12pm Eastern, 11am Central, 10am Mountain, 9am Pacific

Planned Giving: Starting the Conversation
08/10/2010 12:00pm
Mention the words “planned giving” and development staff and boards get nervous. The reality is that most organizations don’t have a planned giving program—and not because it’s too complicated—because they don’t know how to start having the conversations with their donors. Learn how to develop a planned giving program that begins with simple and meaningful conversations with your donors.
Presented by Derrick Feldmann
12pm Eastern, 11am Central, 10am Mountain, 9am Pacific

Conversations with Foundations
09/14/2010 12:00pm
You spend a fair amount of time talking about foundations, but what are they saying about you? Learn about the “behind the scenes” work and conversations that foundations are having about you, and how you can provide foundation staff and trustees with the greatest amount of value at each interaction!
Presented by Joanna Nixon
12pm Eastern, 11am Central, 10am Mountain, 9am Pacific

Our Home Sweet Home... On the Web

2010-05-11T14:14:00.001-07:00

We're so excited about the launch of our new website!
It's easy to navigate, interactive, and a place to invite our constituents to become a larger part of the work we do to improve the lives of children by strengthening our member organizations across the country. We hope you'll get involved in our mission and we'd love to hear your feedback. In fact, leave a comment below and we'll select someone at random to receive a special gift from us soon! There's a sneak peak to the right...tell your friends!
Together, dreams are possible.

Filling the Engagement Gap: An Executive Training Seminar

2010-05-05T09:41:00.000-07:00

On Friday, May 7, Festival of Children Foundation will continue our executive training seminar series with an outstanding, interactive session led by Derrick Feldman, CEO of Achieve Guidance. Derrick will be joined by Bryan Gray of MediaSauce and will help participants understand the "engagement gap" in fundraising - what it is, and how to create opportunities for online and offline fundraising to build a stronger program. Participants will leave with the tools to establish next generation campaigns, approaches for online fundraising, and techniques to move relationships with constituents offline. If you are a Southern California member organization and would like to learn more or attend this program, contact Eileen Daniher at (714) 438-3286.

Restaurant Group Supports Monthly Fundraising Program for Charities

2010-04-19T10:26:00.000-07:00

Wahoo’s Fish Taco, a restaurant group dedicated to making a positive difference in the communities they work in, has launched a program to support as many as four causes a month throughout 2010. All southern California Wahoo's locations will participate in this exciting effort to designate 20% of their profit from each order to a selected youth-serving organization. In honor of National Child Abuse Prevention Month and National Autism Awareness Month, Wahoo's will be supporting Children's Bureau and TACA (Talk About Curing Autism), both member charities of FOCF, for the week of April 19-25. Download the flyer for Children's Bureau or TACA from our website, and support these important causes while sharing delicious food with friends and family!

Thank you, Wahoo's, for your dedication to improving the lives of children!

Agency "Buddies Up" with FOCF to Document Powerful Stories

2010-03-30T10:42:00.000-07:00

This year, we're thrilled to "buddy up" with Pete Deutschmann, Chief Buddy at The Buddy Group, a digital engagement agency that is challenging our eight recipient charities that received funding from The Possible Dream to share their stories in a powerful way.

As The Buddy Group closely monitors each organization in the weeks ahead, they will select one lucky recipient and work together to create a professional sizzle video that showcases the work being done. They will offer creative strategy, help to define the voice of the organization, and work with local media sources to publish the finished product and provide invaluble awareness of the organization. Learn more about The Buddy Group!

Thank you, Pete, for this incredible offer to our charities. We can't wait to see their dreams brought to life through your creative work.

"To Get Our Name Out There"

2010-03-18T11:21:00.000-07:00

Derrick Feldmann, CEO of Achieve Guidance (a valued Festival of Children Foundation partner!) authored an informative article about getting your organization's name "out there" - how to do it effectively, and how to avoid the pitfalls.
We'll continue to share valuable information that pertains to the world of charity, and would love to educate you on subjects specific to your organization. Tell us what you want to hear by commenting below after you've read the article!

Download the Article

Children's Charities Granted Funds to Help Dreams

2010-03-15T10:07:00.000-07:00

Last October, nearly 100 children's charities from across Orange County, CA submitted their ideas for ways to impact the lives of children in need. To celebrate the end of Orange County Register's Season of Caring program, eight charities were granted their wishes this month, with funds to help make their dreams come true. The projects were identified through our grant-making program, The Possible Dream. Recipient charities include Festival of Children Foundation members Girls Inc., Kids Konnected, Orangewood Children's Foundation, and more. Stay tuned as we follow their dreams together at The Possible Dream online!

We've joined the blogosphere!

2010-03-04T14:02:00.001-08:00

Welcome to Festival of Children Foundation's blog. With the launch of our new website (in the next few weeks!) also comes an additional tool for us to communicate with the general public, as well as with our 400+ children's charities nationwide.

We're so excited to blog and invite you to join our discussion. Whether you're a charity, an individual looking to get involved, or a representative of a company that cares, we're glad you're here! Keep checking back as we'll continue to share news, stories from the field, and exciting opportunities for you to get involved in our work.