Bright Holidays - A Jacksonville, Florida Charity for Underprivileged Students and Families

Bring Joy by Providing Necessities to Students

Bright Holidays, a recognized public charity, was founded to help underprivileged students and families in the greater Jacksonville, FL area during the holiday season. Bright Holidays operates on a seasonal basis, relying solely on volunteers and operates with no fixed expenses. More than 99% of donations go directly to benefit disadvantaged children and families. Continue reading...

Bright Holidays Featured on First Coast News

We would like to thank Steve Berrios of First Coast News for spreading the word about how Bright Holidays is helping underprivileged Jacksonville students. View the First Coast News video or read the article.

As Needs Have Grown, So Has Our Outreach

Working with school principals to identify those in need of clothing, food, school supplies and other necessities, Bright Holidays expanded its outreach in 2008/2009 to fund lunch accounts for hungry school children who had no other source of lunch money. As a result, we created the Bright School Days program, which continues our mission throughout the school year by helping supplement the lunch accounts of children who would otherwise go without.

David Garrard Teams Up with Bright Holidays

Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback David Garrard will serve as Honorary Chair of the Bright Holidays fundraising campaign in 2009, teaming up with us to help underprivileged kids for the third year. Learn more about David Garrard's role »»

Highlights

• In 2009, Bright Holidays provided necessities to nearly 600 children in need, by working with 27 Jacksonville-area schools.
• Despite a troubled economy, total donations in 2009 reached nearly $66,000, an increase of 14% over 2008 totals.
• 59% of 2008 donors contributed again in 2009 with two out of three either maintaining or increasing their level of participation
• Of the money spent on gifts, more than 95% went for essential items such as food, clothing and school supplies; 4% was used for simple gifts such as art supplies and balls.
• Operating expenses for last year totaled $824, just slightly more than 1% of monies received.
• Area businesses including Baptist Medical Center, Frances King Insurance Agency, NAIOP, Publix and Winn-Dixie contribute to our mission through donations and discounts.
• More than 150 volunteers handled the shopping, wrapping and delivery of gifts.

Bright Holidays on Facebook

If you are a Facebook user, please invite your friends to join Bright Holidays' Facebook Cause. This is a great way to spread the word about Bright Holidays.