FAB Donors Create 1,200 Children’s Smiles

Thanks to three generous donors, 1,200 children are getting the gift of their dreams this holiday season. World-renowned professional poker player Bernard Lee and The Family-to-Family Project founders Paul and Katie Buttenwieser are bringing joy to children in our care.

Many holiday celebrations and toy drives throughout the city have been cancelled due to COVID, including FAB’s, leaving 1,000 FAB parents with few gift resources as the holiday season began.

Several long-time FAB supporters then stepped in to put children first this holiday season. Mr. Lee is providing personalized gifts for children living in our multi-family shelters, and the Buttenwieser’s are providing funds for other FAB parents to purchase a special gift for each of their children through Amazon. Both donations allow parents to remain socially distant and safely bring happiness into their homes.

“Our donors are empowering families, especially our single mothers, to give their children the gift of their dreams this year,” says FAB’s chief operating officer Annie Marcklinger Gordon. “The Amazon and personalized gifts allow parents to be engaged in selecting presents for their children and add a bit of stability and happiness into their families’ difficult housing and economic situations.”

FAB Family Shelter Services Supervisor Barbara Meneide works with Charlotte, a mother of three who was grateful for the holiday help. She recently wrote to Barbara, “Thank you for the Amazon gifts! I appreciate all the support you guys have given us and we wouldn’t be where we are today if it weren’t for FAB helping us become stably housed.”

Our generous donors support us in many ways, and this additional commitment to providing joy to children, this year especially, is a tremendous gift.

Thank you, Bernard, Paul and Katie, for putting the enrichment of our children first and ensuring 1,200 smiles this holiday season.