For more than 112 years, Hathaway-Sycamores Child and Family Services has been dedicated to nurturing hope, healing, and the opportunity to thrive for children, youth, young adults, and families facing serious life challenges. The agency provides therapeutic and other support services to nearly 7,000 youngsters and families annually, and it is on their behalf that Hathaway-Sycamores is reaching out to the community to help bring holiday happiness to those in need.

Purchase a heartwarming calendar
There are several ways that members of the community can help. Consider, for example, buying a 2016 Children’s Art Calendar. The 2016 Children’s Art calendar, created through the “A Visit to the Museum” art project by area students who receive academic-enrichment and other support services from the Hathaway-Sycamores Highland Park Family Resource Center, this one-of-a-kind calendar is an ideal holiday gift. Through this program, at-risk and underserved children – ranging in age from 6 to 11 – spent afternoons at the Family Resource Center receiving art instruction from Master-in-Residence artist Mary Kay Wilson. The calendar can be ordered at http://www.hathaway-sycamores.org or by calling (626) 395-7100 ext. 2516.

Donate a gift
Gifts are needed for all age groups, from infants to age 21. Gifts should be unwrapped and nonviolent in nature. Often requested items include: sports equipment; electronic and board games; art supplies; DVDs (PG or PG-13); radio alarm clocks; beauty products; video games (G rated); stuffed animals; clothing; backpacks; hair accessories; and watches. Many of those in Hathaway-Sycamores’ care are teenagers, so gift cards (such as Best Buy, GameStop, Footlocker, Target, Walmart) are always a good choice, as are movie passes. Cash donations are especially valued for helping Hathaway-Sycamores to fulfill children’s special wishes. Donated items can be mailed or brought – by Dec. 18 – to Andi Sica at Hathaway-Sycamores Child and Family Services, 210 S. De Lacey Ave., Ste. 110, Pasadena, CA, 91105. If you have questions, or need delivery assistance, call (626) 395-7100 ext. 2516.

Adopt-a-family
Among the families receiving services from Hathaway-Sycamores, the agency has identified those most in need. Community members can “adopt” one of these families by providing gifts, household items, food, or grocery-store gift certificates. Donated items can be mailed or brought – by Dec. 18 – to Hathaway-Sycamores Child and Family Services Development Department, 210 S. De Lacey Ave., Ste. 110, Pasadena, CA, 91105.

Host a “wish tree”
This is an opportunity for area businesses. Hathaway-Sycamores provides tags – that can be hung on a tree – listing the names of youngsters in residential treatment, their ages, and what they would like for a gift. Employees can then select a tag and fulfill that child’s wish. Hathaway-Sycamores will pick up the gifts prior to the holidays. Interested businesses should contact Andi Sica at (626) 395-7100 ext. 2516 or e-mail her at [email protected].

Shop here
If you buy an item at Vroman’s Bookstore (695 E. Colorado Blvd., Pasadena, CA, 91101; http://www.vromansbookstore.com) you can designate Hathaway-Sycamores as your Vroman’s “Give Back” recipient. Once you do, Vroman’s will donate a percentage of your total purchase to Hathaway-Sycamores. You also can shop online at http://www.smile.amazon.com and designate Hathaway-Sycamores as your charitable organization. Amazon will then donate half-a-percent of your purchase amount to the agency.

Make a tax-deductible, yearend contribution
By making a financial donation to Hathaway-Sycamores, not only will you be helping to improve the lives of children in need, but – by doing so prior to year’s end – you also will receive a 2015 tax deduction. Donations can be made online at http://www.hathaway-sycamores.org.

“Every child deserves happiness, particularly during the holidays. For many of the kids in our care the gifts from our friends and supporters may be the only presents they receive this year,” said Hathaway-Sycamores Child and Family Services’ President and CEO Debra Manners. Adding, “It is our goal to brighten the holidays for more than 500 children and families. All donations will be tremendously appreciated.”

About Hathaway-Sycamores

Hathaway-Sycamores Child and Family Services is a highly respected mental health and welfare agency with 11 locations throughout Southern California. For over 112 years, we have been dedicated to nurturing hope, healing, and the opportunity to thrive for children, youth, young adults, and families facing serious life challenges. Hathaway-Sycamores’ comprehensive array of programs and services – which touch nearly 7,000 lives annually – include: residential treatment; foster care and adoption; transitional living assistance for emancipated foster youth; outpatient and school-based mental health services; wraparound/in-home services; psychiatric services; psychological testing; grief counseling; a nonpublic school; and afterschool tutoring/enrichment. Accredited by The Joint Commission and the Western Association of Schools and Colleges, Hathaway-Sycamores is licensed by the Community Care Licensing Division of the California Department of Social Services and is certified by the Los Angeles County Department of Mental Health. To learn more, visit http://www.hathaway-sycamores.org/.