Through the generous donations collected from the annual Holiday Train event, Caltrain and Silicon Valley Community Foundation will direct a total of $30,000 to three local nonprofit organizations.
Larkin Street Youth Services, based in San Francisco, Second Harvest Food Bank of Santa Clara and San Mateo Counties, and Youth United for Community Action of East Palo Alto each received a $10,000 gift this week.
Each year, Caltrain and Silicon Valley Community Foundation partner for the two-day Holiday Train event, where a special train emblazoned with thousands of lights travels from San Francisco down though the Peninsula, accompanied by entertainment groups performing songs of seasonal cheer.
As part of the event, the public is asked to donate money and toys for children who might otherwise not receive gifts. Last year, more than 3,000 toys were collected, along with thousands of dollars, which allowed Caltrain and Silicon Valley Community Foundation to identify three organizations that could benefit from those proceeds.
“Caltrain Holiday Train presented by Silicon Valley Community Foundation is a wonderful tradition that fosters a spirit of community during the holiday season,” said Mari Ellen Loijens, chief business, development and brand officer for SVCF. “We are proud to extend that community spirit throughout the year in the form of grants to these important organizations.”
Larkin Street Youth Services focuses on getting youth off the streets through various programs, including education and job training, housing and medical assistance.
Second Harvest Food Bank provides nutritious food to roughly 250,000 Bay Area residents each month. It mobilizes individuals, companies and community partners to connect people to the nutritious food they need.
Youth United for Community Action is a grassroots community organization created, led, and run by young people of color, the majority of whom come from low-income communities. The center provides a safe space for young people to work on environmental and social justice issues.
The 2015 Holiday Train will take place on Dec. 5-6. The train, decked out with more than 70,000 lights, will make stops at stations along the Peninsula, and will feature performances from a variety of talented entertainers, plenty of costumed characters and other family-friendly events.
