Yesterday, Thursday, December 5th 2013, Enlightened Helping Hand Foundation held its annual Fundraiser for Struggling Single Parent Families.
It may not have been one of the grand and glitzy social events, but it was a GREAT evening! It was warm, festive, genuine and best of all: the company was first class! (The number of RSVPs exceeded the available space so at the last moment the gathering was moved to an alternate location!)
There was plenty of Christmas Spirit, music and snacks but the conversation centered – no, not on the ladies’ outfits but – on the mission and beneficiaries of Enlightened Helping Hand Foundation.

Just hours before the fundraiser, the staff of EHHF successfully handled an emergency situation. A single mother of two who’s receiving Cal Fresh and Cal Works benefits was left without any means of support for the month of December! (She missed a scheduled appointment with her caseworker not because she’s careless but because she suffers from epilepsy and was hospitalized at the time the appointment was to take place.) The fundraiser not withstanding, EHHF stepped up delivering large amount of non-perishable foods directly to the family’s home. (Next week, the family will receive also warm clothing and bus tokens.) Rest assured, the struggling single mother with her two children won’t be hungry or cold this Holiday Season.

And this was basically also the main theme of Enlightened Helping Hand Foundation’s 2013 Fundraiser: getting together as a community to make sure that no disadvantaged single parent and her children go without essentials. Among other topics of conversation were EHHF’s plans for 2014 which include tutoring and / or after school program which would ensure scholastic success of impoverished single parents’ children as well as afford the parents more time to earn a living – or learn – so they’ll be able to build secure future for their families.

No, it wasn’t all work and no fun! The Silent Auction provided plenty of excitement with valuable items ranging from Fair Trade Organic Coffee (courtesy of Green Mountain Coffee, better known as Keurig), to amusement park (Knott’s Berry Farm!) and entertainment VIP tickets (thanks of Wheel of Fortune, no less!) and even a certificate for four general admission tickets plus four wristbands to see the 4th of July fireworks show in Studio City from the roof! (The latter, thanks to the generosity of Studio City Chamber of Commerce.)
Dinners for two (thanks to the generosity of The Cheesecake Factory, P.F. Chang’s and Benihana) were up for auction as well.
There were signed celebrity items and signed photos of Vanna White and Pat Sajak!
Sherwin Williams provided high quality paint and yes, the sweet ice cream cake courtesy of Sherman Oaks Galleria’s Ben & Jerry was “fought over”, too!

Even though the raised funds are not sufficient to make all of Enlightened Helping Hand Foundation’s dreams come true, they will make a HUGE difference in lives of about a 1,000 struggling single parent families providing food, clothing, empowerment workshops, ESL classes and other essentials. (Several of the fundraiser’s guests offered to volunteer. Needless to say EHHF can always use hands-on help!)

Enlightened Helping Hand Foundation’s 2013 Fundraiser for Struggling Single Parent Families was an intimate affair and yet, a roaring success and for that EHHF expresses heartfelt thanks to all our esteemed guests and the organizations that have so generously contributed to the Silent Auction.
With support like this, EHHF looks to 2014 with optimism: please continue supporting our efforts! Together (the community, the donors, supporters, volunteers and Enlightened Helping Hand Foundation) we are a power for good; if we continue at the same speed there will be less desperate single parents and less hungry / deprived children in our neighborhood in 2014! The need doesn’t take time off it continues, but for now at least: Happy Holiday Season and Joy to the World!