For Immediate Release

Contact: James Paxson, General Manager
Hacienda Owners Association
(925) 734-6500

PLEASANTON, Calif. — Hacienda Helping Hands, Hacienda's community outreach initiative, is challenging businesses to make a difference in their community through participation in its annual fundraising campaign. Hacienda's owners, investors, businesses and other affiliates are joining in local efforts to address critical needs in the Tri-Valley.

Hacienda Helping Hands is seeking to grow its fund so that it can continue making grants to locally-serving community organizations and non-profits with missions to work in six key philanthropic areas: youth development and education, family strengthening, senior assistance, access to healthcare and healthy living, affordable housing and solutions to homelessness, and arts and culture. Over the last eight years, Hacienda Helping Hands has been able to distribute thousands of dollars to those committed to these causes. Past recipients include: Axis Community Health, Alameda County Community Food Bank, Senior Support Program of the Tri-Valley, Buenas Vidas Youth Ranch, Open Heart Kitchen, La Familia, Sentinels of Freedom, Tri-Valley Housing Opportunity Center and many more.

This year, a special challenge has been put forward by Hacienda's Kaiser Permanente. Kaiser Permanente's goal is to support the communities they serve. As the largest tenant in Hacienda and with a commitment to the Tri-Valley region, Kaiser Permanente has generously pledged a matching grant of up to $5,000.00 towards the Hacienda Helping Hands holiday funding campaign. "At Kaiser Permanente, we understand that our care and service extends beyond our walls and includes the communities we serve. Through this partnership with Hacienda Helping Hands our hope is to enhance the generosity provided every year," notes Colleen McKeown, Senior Vice President and Area Manager, for Kaiser Permanente Diablo Service Area.

"The goal of our initiative is to help make a difference by supporting organizations that are addressing important community needs," said James Paxson, Hacienda's General Manager. "During the year, Hacienda Helping Hands was able to provide funding for a number of worhtwhile projects. The funds we raise now allow us to continue that work. We are particularly grateful to Kaiser Pemanente for recognizing the value of this effort and challenging our businesses to help do more locally."

Hacienda Helping Hands community involvement spanned a number of areas in 2016. Key activities include:

• Hacienda Helping Hands awarded four impact grants to organizations providing local services. Tri-Valley Haven was given a $5,000.00 grant to fund a commercial refrigerator in support of their food pantry programs. Child Care Links was given a $2,000.00 grant in support of the organization's new Diaper Bank. Sandra J. Wing Healing Therapies Foundation was given a $2,250.00 grant to provide underwriting for a special cancer caregiver seminar series. Close-up Foundation was given a $2,100.00 grant to provide scholarship funding for local, low-income student participation in their program.

• In partnership with Kaiser Permanente, the East Bay Community Foundation and the East Bay Leadership Council, Hacienda Helping Hands continued its participation in the Tri-Valley Anti-Poverty Collaborative whose recent work includes furthering poverty reduction in the Tri-Valley through initiatives around health, education and housing.

• Hacienda Helping Hands continued its nearly two decades old tradition of assisting the Alameda County Community Food Bank with its annual holiday food drive.

Hacienda Helping Hands has already received support from a number of businesses but more is needed. Local companies are encouraged to join Kaiser Permanente, Chamberlin Associates, Walmart, First United Services Credit Union, Ellis Partners LLC, Colliers International and many more to help raise funds to meet community needs.

Management of contributions to and donations from the Hacienda Helping Hands campaign are performed under the auspices of the East Bay Community Foundation (www.EBCF.org), one of the largest sources of philanthropic support for the East Bay. Donations to the Hacienda Helping Hands Fund are tax exempt. An acknowledgment and appropriate documentation pertaining to the tax exempt status of contributions will be sent on receipt of a donation. Companies interested in making donations to Hacienda Helping Hands can do so online at www.ebcf.kintera.org and selecting 'Hacienda Helping Hands' from the Component Fund list, or by contacting helpinghands@hacienda.org or (925) 734-6500 at Hacienda or Ken Harootunian, East Bay Community Foundation, (510) 836-3223.

Hacienda comprises a broad mix of over 685 firms involved in high tech, communications, the food industry, insurance, finance, and consumer goods. Hacienda is home to the headquarters and western regional offices of Fortune 500 companies or their subsidiaries, as well as start-up companies comprised of local talent and consulting firms with expertise in legal, accounting, engineering and computer systems.

The East Bay Community Foundation (www.eastbaycf.org) transforms lives by harnessing financial capital, leadership and philanthropic expertise through the power of many: partnerships with individual donors, business, government, and private foundations. The East Bay Community Foundation is especially dedicated to advancing economic opportunity for those in need and the education that leads to it. As a leading resource on charitable giving and community needs, the East Bay Community Foundation manages more than 500 charitable funds and endowments.

Contact Information

Hacienda Owners Association
4305 Hacienda Drive, Suite 330, Pleasanton, California  94588-2738
(925) 734-6500 phone     (925) 734-6501 fax
info@hacienda.org e-mail     www.hacienda.org WWW