PASADENA, CA – (December 19, 2024) Foothill Family hosted its annual Making Seasons Brighter holiday festival at their Dulay, Parjarillo & Moore Family Center in Pomona on Saturday, December 15, a holiday celebration that brought the community together to support 100 families—totaling nearly 500 individuals. The event showcased the power of unity, kindness, and collective action in uplifting families and helping to ease the significant financial burden the holidays can place on parents and caregivers.
With over 40 toy drive partnerships throughout the San Gabirel Valley, opportunities to shop Foothill Family’s Amazon Wishlist, and volunteering as a way of sharing joy in person, the community stepped up in extraordinary ways to create a holiday festival filled with joy, laughter, and lasting memories.
“Making Seasons Brighter is more than an event—it’s a reflection of the community’s unwavering compassion and support,” said Steve Allen, Foothill Family’s Chief Executive Officer. “When organizations like Foothill Family and the community join forces, we can truly transform the holiday season into a time of joy, hope, and empowerment for our children and families.”
This year’s event included a pop-up shopping experience where children and families picked out toys, shoes, and books, complete with a gift-wrapping station. This year, thanks to partnerships with Lopez Urban Farm, Maqueda Foods, and God’s Pantry, families also received 1,300 pounds of farm-fresh vegetables, pantry essentials, and holiday meal kits, helping families create meaningful holiday meals together.
Families enjoyed a full day of festive fun, featuring live entertainment, holiday crafts, balloon creations, a photo booth, a bounce house, authentic Southern fried cuisine courtesy of DD’s Chick & Cat Shack, and sweet treats from the Helpful Honda Treat Truck.
Free vision screenings were provided by Clarity Advanced Optometry and Foothill Family Board member Dr. Tina Chiou. Holiday beverages, generously donated by Gaviña Coffee and Board member Lisette Gaviña Lopez, Starbucks, Tpumps Boba, and Niagara Bottling, added to the festive atmosphere.
“As we approach our 100th year of serving the community, Making Seasons Brighter is a perfect example of how we can come together to spread joy and uplift families,” said Lindsey Lansburgh, Foothill Family’s Director of Development. “We are deeply grateful to our sponsors, the Friends of Foothill Family, and every individual who gave their time, resources, and energy to make this event truly special. Your support helps ensure that our families feel the warmth and care of the season.”
A huge thank you to our following top sponsors who helped make this event possible: SoCal Helpful Honda Dealers, Las Encinas, Mickey & Lee Segal, New Omni Bank, Los Angeles County Board Supervisor Kathryn Barger, Sally & Thomas Gertmenian, Sid & Milly Jones, Al Mour, Kiwanis Club of La Canada, California Assemblywoman Blanca Rubio, and The Winter Family Fund at the Chicago Community Foundation. Special thanks to our Media Sponsors: La Nueva Voz, The Outlook Pasadena, and Pasadena Now.
More information about Making Seasons Brighter can be found at https://www.foothillfamily.org/take-action/events/making-seasons-brighter/
About Foothill Family:
Founded in 1926, Foothill Family is a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing mental health and social services to empower families and individuals to achieve success in their lives. With a commitment to fostering a sense of community and support, Foothill Family strives to make a positive impact on the well-being of those it serves. Its mission, to build brighter futures for children and families, has helped Foothill Family earn a reputation for providing high-quality services aimed at empowering families and strengthening communities. Programs include mental health and school-based therapy services for children, early childhood development programs, family and youth services including child abuse prevention and treatment, domestic violence prevention and treatment, and services for pregnant and parenting teens. For more information, please call (626) 993-3000 or visit www.foothillfamily.org.
Foothill Family is a registered 501(c)3 – Tax ID: #95-1690990
Foothill Family in Making Seasons Brighter
Foothill Family Chief Executive Officer Steve Allen shares smiles and joy with the kids at Making Seasons Brighter.
1,600 donated toys and essentials helped make holiday wishes come true for families.
Every donation helped turn holiday dreams into cherished memories.
Finding the perfect toy brought beautiful smiles and joy.
Finding the perfect toy brought beautiful smiles and joy.
Families enjoyed shopping, crafts, and sweet moments at Making Seasons Brighter.
Families found joy, laughter, and the perfect holiday gifts while celebrating together at Making Seasons Brighter.
Always helpful, always cheerful! Helpful Honda brought joy, treats, and their signature kindness to the celebration.
1,300 pounds of farm fresh vegetables, canned goods and snacks were distributed to families thanks to Lopez Urban Farm, Maqueda Foods, and God’s Pantry.
Building libraries at home! Families picked from 5,000 donated books to enjoy stories for every generation.
Little artists at work! Kids loved making ornaments, drawings, and holiday cards at the arts and crafts stations.
Straight from Whoville! The Grinch’s heart grew three sizes as he joined families for some festive fun.
A feast of holiday cheer! Huge thanks to DD’s Chick & Cat Shack for treating families to delicious Southern fried goodness this season.