Holiday Heroes bring cheer to families in New England

Excited employees of OnForce strike a pose with their donated gifts.

This year, Youth Villages’ Holiday Heroes initiative provided more than 160 children from Massachusetts and New Hampshire with holiday joy and relief. To kick off the initiative, Youth Villages Massachusetts held its second annual Holiday Heroes gift drive at J.A. Stats in Downtown Boston. More than 100 young professionals attended the event, which raised more than $2,000 and 85 gifts for the families Youth Villages serves. Additionally, several corporate partners shopped to fulfill the holiday wishes of more than 100 children. Gifts of all shapes and sizes were distributed to more than 70 families before Christmas.

Guests were all smiles at the Holiday Heroes gift drive. Pictured from left to right are Stewart Solomon, Youth Villages Intercept Clinical Supervisor Edith Block and Kelly Shea.

After visiting one household, a Youth Villages family intervention specialist described the mother’s reaction to receiving gifts: “I had one family who was so appreciative before I even came with the gifts. Then, when I arrived with the gifts, she was so elated that she was brought to tears. For a mother who told me there would be no Christmas, these donations and the love that inspired people to give really made a difference.” Read more of this family’s story.

A heartfelt thank you to our corporate partners who sponsored more than 40 families this holiday season:

• Bullhorn
• The Paul & Phyllis Fireman Charitable Foundation
• Gordon Brothers Group
• JDJ Resources
• JMJ Dance Studio
• Kaspersky Lab
• OnForce Inc.