FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
December 8, 2010
EOC's 17th Annual Making Spirits Bright Events Spreads Holiday Cheer to Needy Families

- 30 disadvantaged families enjoy holiday celebration complete with Santa -

WHO:
Fresno County Economic Opportunities Commission's (EOC) Sanctuary and Youth Services and its partners - Airport Optimist Club of Fresno, AT&T, Anthem Blue Cross, Pacific Gas & Electric Company, Central California Consortium, Macy's Fresno, U.S. Forest Service, Jefferson Elementary School, London Properties, student volunteers, Javier Mercado and family, and CSU, Fresno.

WHAT:
'Tis the season to be jolly! EOC's Sanctuary and Youth Services and its partners are making holiday dreams come true for 30 economically disadvantaged Sanger families. The families - which include 111 children - will enjoy a holiday feast consisting of turkey with all the trimmings, live performances from Sanger High School's choir, stockings, and gifts. Participants will also receive free energy-efficient LED tree lights courtesy of PG&E and have a freshly cut Christmas tree from the U.S. Forest Service delivered to their home.

Jefferson Elementary School staff identified the participating families as being economically disadvantaged. Since the program's inception in 1993, Making Spirits Bright has reached 430 families residing in Fresno County.

WHEN:
Saturday, December 11, 2010
12:00 p.m.-3:00 p.m.

WHERE:
Jefferson Elementary School
1110 E. Tucker Avenue in Sanger

Sanctuary and Youth Services provides temporary shelter and crisis intervention services to runaway and homeless youth 11-24 years old. Sanctuary's services include a 24-hour emergency shelter for youth 11-17 years of age, Transitional Living Centers for young adults 16-24, a Drop-In Center, and case management services. In addition, Sanctuary operates 260 Safe Place sites throughout Fresno County which serve as access points into the Sanctuary Youth Shelter.

Note: Joe Martinez, with EOC's Sanctuary and Youth Services, and families will be available for interviews during the event.
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CONTACT
Joe Martinez
559.498.8543
joe.martinez@fresnoeoc.org
About EOC
Our Mission
To humanely focus all available resources to empower low-income families and individuals working toward the skills, knowledge and motivation for self-sufficiency.

About EOC
Fresno County Economic Opportunities Commission, known as EOC, was established in 1965 with the goal of obtaining equality of opportunity in education, employment, health and living conditions for those in need in Fresno County. We are widely recognized and are one of the largest nonprofit Community Action Agencies in the United States.

EOC has spent over four decades investing in people, helping them become self-sufficient. The scope of service provided by our Agency consists of almost all facets of human services and economic development. They range from pre-school education to vocational training; from juvenile and drug abuse counseling to treatment for serious juvenile offenders; from youth recreation to senior citizen hot meal services; from energy conservation education to crisis intervention; from preventive health care to prenatal nutrition education; and from vocational counseling to job placement services.