Welcome

Gifts for Teens is sponsored by the American Association of University Women–San Jose (AAUW-San Jose)
It is a tax exempt organization that has been working with teenagers in Silicon Valley since 1997

At holiday time several community organizations collect toys and gifts for younger children, but donations for teenagers are always low. This means many of the teens living below the poverty level in Santa Clara County will receive no gifts during the holiday season.

Gifts for Teens brightens the holidays for many of these overlooked young people with special gift bags brimming with fun and practical items. The goal is to provide a holiday gift to homeless and low-income teenagers who may not have any special attention at this festive time.

Each year Gifts for Teens volunteers gather donated items and gifts purchased with cash donations to fill girls totes and boys gym bags. These bags are given to needy teens living in San Jose. With support from a broad base of over 600 Silicon Valley volunteers, corporations, and community organizations approximately 1,500 bags are filled and given as presents.

With each donation, Gifts for Teens can make the holidays special for over a thousand young people.

Gifts for Teens

1997 - 2020

All donations are tax deductible

Tax ID # 77-0201841

1997 - 2017
20 YEAR ANNIVERSARY
GIFTS FOR TEENS

From 1997 to 2017 GIFTS FOR TEENS has
supported needy Silicon Valley teenagers
with lovely useful gifts for the holidays.

We could not do this each year for 20
years without the continued support of our
amazing and loyal South Bay
community partners.

Thanks for 20 years of success serving thousands of needy teens!
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PayPal

2019 - $8,035 San Jose Sharks Foundation Grant

December 50/50 Raffle

Gifts for Teens was featured at the SJ Sharks game on

Decemb

er 14. The Sharks Foundation selected the GFT Program as a beneficiary of the 50/50 Raffle for the Sharks vs. Vancouver game on Saturday, December 14, 2019.

GFT received $8,035 in cash from the Sharks 50/50 raffle. Thank you Sharks Foundation and Sharks fans!

The 50/50 Raffle is presented by Black Oak Casino Resort.

TThe Sharks Foundation stated the GFT program strongly aligns with their December ‘ Season of Giving Campaign” month.

GFT is excited to have the Sharks’ financial support and the local attention generated for the poorest-of-the-poor teenagers in our area.

GFT 1997 to 2020 - 23 YEARS

In 2020 Gifts for Teens enters its 23rd year of serving the San Jose

Silicon Valley community by helping needy teens and families.

GFT helps needy teens and families celebrate their holidays with joy by creating and gifting special gift duffles and totes that are useful and fun

Thanks to all the

community volunteers and donors

that make GFT

possible and successful

Thanks for 23 years of success serving thousands of needy San Jose teens!

Hitachi Vantara - Granted A cash amount of $8,000 to purchase heavy warm sweatshirts for needy youths for use this winter sweatshirts.
Your generous grant will help again this year.

SD Trombetta Fundation - A donation of $15,000 to buy zippered sturdy nylon duffel and tote bags .Thank you for your many years of continued generous support.

The Pajama Program - Donated hundreds of warm cozy guy and girl Pajamas collected at their festive “Brunch for the Big Kids” fundraiser held on September 7, 2019. Pajamas keep teens comfortable and help them get a good nights sleep. PJ’s are a necessity for teens living in group homes and shelters.

Farrington Historical Fundation - A generous cash donation of $8,800 to buy zippered, hooded sweatshirts for teens in the winter.

San Jose Sharks - A much appreciated donation of 420 Bobble Head Figures giving teens the fun of collecting collectibles Sharks players figures.

Los Gatos History Club - membership gave a generous $1,500 cash donation . Each year they donate generously and send volunteers to assemble bags. Thank you History Club memebers for your continued support.

National Charity League - Local chapter moms and daughters contributed 230 socks, 300 cosmetics, many games and tees.
N.C.L. is a Teen Daughter and Mom philanthropic group.

CISCO - 1,055 T-shirts and polos

KIND Bars - 960 KIND Granola Bars, yummy, chocolate and oats snacks
Sacred Heart Community Service - 3,000 School Supplies and 200 back packs including school notebooks, pens, USB Drives, calculators, erasers, folders and more.
Sacred Heart Community Service - 680 girl’s pajama sets. Fun summer weight animal print pj sets for the girls.
Jay Paul Company - December Assembly site space at 100 West San Fernando Street. Thanks for this large downtown space. This generous donation makes this year’s assembly possible.
Numerous Individuals - who contribute cash and in-kind items used to fill the popular duffels and tote bags each year
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2018 MAJOR DONORS

Silicon Valley Cares - Philanthropic women members raised and donated a major cash grant of $19,000 to buy sturdy duffels, sweatshirts and gift bag contents for 2018. SVC sponsors the popular Broomstick Ball each October and has awarded this grant to GFT from the 2017 Broomstick Ball proceeds

Hitachi Vantara - Granted funds to purchase heavy warm sweatshirts for needy youths for use this winter (Grant Funds TBD)

SD Trombetta Fundation - Cash grant of $10,000 allowed GFT to purchase 1,300 cozy fleece blankets - one for each teen served in 2018

The Pajama Program - Donating 750 pairs of pajamas to keep teens comfortable and help them get a good nights sleep. PJ’s are a necessity for teens living in group homes and shelters

Stephen and Lydia Franzese Family Fund - Donation of $2,000 used for buying 250 more pairs of warm Pajamas from the The Pajama Program to give each teen warm PJ’s this year. 1104 total pairs of fun guy and gal PJs for our teen gift bags.

San Jose Sharks - A much appreciated donation of 466 teal colored tee-shirts, very popular with the kids

National Charity League - Local chapter moms and daughters contributed over 500 pairs of new socks for the teens

Dr. Chris Corsa, DDS - Almaden dentist will collect and donate candy to add a sweet treat to each gift bag in 2018

Golfland - Donating admission tickets to play mini-golf to add to gift bags for many teens

Weingarten Realty - donated December 2018 workspace at Cambrian Park Plaza for two weeks for the GFT team to complete assembly of over 1,300 gift bags

GFT wants to thanks the following organizations for their consistent monetary support:
Alamaden Valley Singles
The History Club of Los Gatos
Delta Theta Tau Sorority
Almaden Valley Women’s Club

Silicon Valley Cares
S. D. Trombetta Foundation
Emerald Hills Golfland
Pajama Program
Hitachi Vantara
Cisco Systems
Sacred Heart Community Service
Archbishop Mitty High School
Shark’s Foundation
Presentation High School
Weingarten Realty
Niles Sisters’ Jewelry
National Charity League
Harvey’s/Harrah’s Lake Tahoe
Battle Gnomes Games
Franzese Family Trust
Almaden Valley Women’s Club
Kohl’s Stores
Benoit Family Trust
Carmel Doll and Toy Club

GFT wants to thank
Numerous Individuals - who contribute cash and in-kind items used to fill the popular duffels and tote bags each year
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2017 MAJOR DONORS

SD Trombetta Fundation - Cash donation of $10,000 for purchasing duffels, totes, and bag gifts

Silicon Valley Cares - A major cash grant of $19,000 to GFT for 2018. SVC sponsors the popular Broomstick Ball each October. SVC awarded a grant of $19,000 to GFT from the 2017 Ball proceeds

Hitachi - Cash donation of $5000 to help buy sweatshirts. And an enthusiastic group of employees comes to help fill bags too.

Los Gatos History Club - Cash donation of $2,000 for bag contents. The Club is a longtime supporter, and sends energetic and fun members to help prepare the teen bags and totes every year.

Weingarten Realty - donated December workspace at Cambrian Park Plaza for two weeks for the GFT team to complete assembly of over 1,300 gift bags

Los Gatos History Club - membership gave a generous $2,000 cash donation and sends volunteers to assemble bags

Golfland Almaden - 1,300 tickets for admission to play a round of miniature golf for the girls and boys totes

National Charity League - collected cosmetics and persoanally wrapped them as holiday gifts and are volunteering to teen gift bags

Harrahs North Lake Tahoe - 1,200 decks of playing cards for each of the gifts bags

COVID-19

As we at Gifts For Teens continue to shelter in place in response to the Covid-19 pandemic, we wish all our many wonderful community volunteers and donors good health.

While we all wait, Gifts for Teens has not been idle! Currently we are collecting and buying bag contents - items the teens need and like. Generous donors are already giving cash and fun and practical gifts. Our buyers are actively pursuing sales and on-line bargains to fill teen totes and duffles.

This year the need will be great. Our Gifts for Teens’ abundant bags will be doubly appreciated by the low-income teenagers and homeless youth we serve! We will let our supporters know 2020 dates and times for our bag assembly when Covid-19 sanctions are lifted.

Please stay in touch for news of our future plans and stay safe.

For more information or to donate please contact Elaine elaine@gifts4teens.org
or call (408) 268-9654

We continually thank our donors for their
generosityin donating the special items
that fill our bags each year

Gifts for Teens

Director Elaine Benoit explains how GFT helps needy teens and families celebrate their holidays with joy. GFT creates special duffles and totes that are filled with personal, practical and fun gifts and gives them to needy San Jose teens.

Thanks for 23 years of success serving thousands
of needy San Jose teens!