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

Former Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback David Garrard will again serve as Honorary Chair of this year's fundraising campaign.

Jacksonville, Fla (October 20, 2011) Bright Holidays announced today that David Garrard will again serve as Honorary Chair of this year's fundraising campaign.

"I'm honored to once again partner with Bright Holidays to ensure that children and families in need in our community have a special holiday," said Garrard. "So many of these families are in need of the basics, like food, clothing and school supplies for their children. While Bright Holidays helps financially disadvantaged families, my foundation provides special assistance to children of such families who also have a parent battling breast cancer. The holidays can be a particularly difficult time for these kids, and I'm pleased that we're including them as part of our focus this year."

Unlike other charities and foundations, Bright Holidays operates on a seasonal basis, relies solely on volunteer efforts and operates with no fixed expenses.

Sylvia Johnson, principal of Eugene J. Butler Middle, inspired the concept and John Forrester, a local business executive, founded the organization in 2003. Inaugural efforts, before the establishment of any organization or certification by the IRS, raised approximately $15,000, which benefited nearly 200 elementary school students and their families. This year, Bright Holidays has a goal of raising $75,000 to provide necessities for nearly 600 children and their families. Garrard will surprise families during the distribution period by personally delivering their gifts to their homes.

Today, Bright Holidays has a strong Board of Directors comprised of local business leaders and educators. In addition, Bright Holidays has recruited volunteer workers and enjoys relationships with local professional firms to provide pro bono accounting, communications, legal and technology services. As a result of its volunteer Board and these relationships, Bright Holidays requires no operating capital and can use 100% of monies raised to help those in need of assistance.

Bright Holidays raises funds locally and works with school principals in the community to identify those in need of clothing, food, school supplies and other necessities.

Over the course of the fall semester, faculty members determine who is in need of assistance. Each school compiles a list of students and, upon approval by the school principal, submits its list to Bright Holidays. Volunteers then shop, wrap and distribute the items to each family in the weeks leading up to Christmas.

David Garrard's participation in Bright Holidays is in concert with the David Garrard Foundation, a 501(c)(3) corporation established in 2009 to promote healthy, active lifestyles for children. The foundation also provides special assistance to local children impacted by Crohn's disease and breast cancer.

Contacts:

John Forrester, Founder, Bright Holidays - jforrester@brightholidays.org
Heather Surface, Director, David Garrard Foundation - heather@davidgarrardfoundation.org