November 8, 2013 – As foster youth in the Sacramento area spend the holidays away from home, local residents can ensure they still have stockings and presents to open through United Way’s Women in Philanthropy holiday drive for foster youth.

“The holidays are the most wonderful time of the year because they give us a chance to make sure everyone in our community feels loved,” said Lorrie Wilson, co-chair of United Way’s Women in Philanthropy. “Foster youth can feel quite forgotten this time of year, so we are excited to make sure more than 200 kids in our community feel special this holiday season.”

Visit www.yourlocalunitedway.org  to sign up for specific gifts for 75 children in Sacramento County’s Child Protective Services or provide a $30 donation to purchase holiday stockings for 200 foster youth in United Way’s $en$e-Ability project. United Way will fill the stockings with a Target gift card, hat, blanket, first aid kit, yearly planner, socks, snacks and personal notes. All items must be received by 4:30 p.m. on Dec. 2 at United Way’s office, 10389 Old Placerville Road, Sacramento. For more information, contact Leslie Ortiz at leslie.ortiz@uwccr.org  or (916) 856-3977.

United Way’s Women in Philanthropy brings women together to foster the future, preparing foster youth for a successful adulthood. A dynamic group of businesswomen, homemakers and community leaders, Women in Philanthropy members raise funds, hold drives and provide trainings focused on helping foster youth rise to their dreams. The group also is a partner in United Way’s $en$e-Ability project, helping foster youth become financially self-sufficient through financial literacy courses and individual development accounts that provide a matched savings program. For more information, visit www.yourlocalunitedway.org/wip .