Events

Over 650 Served at 71st Charles Reid Foundation Christmas Party on Sunday

Published

6 years ago

December 21, 2018

Chevron Richmond employee volunteers at the 71st Annual Charles Reid Foundation Christmas Party. (Photos by Mike Kinney).

After 71 consecutive years, the Charles Reid Foundation Christmas Party hasn’t skipped a beat.
Over 650 attendees received toys and clothing during the annual giveaway on Sunday at the Richmond Police Activities League center at 22nd Street and Macdonald Avenue. Santa handed out scooters, toy cars, dolls, soccer balls and more.
A popular playground director at Shields Reid Park in North Richmond, the late Charles Reid first launched and sponsored the annual party in 1947, when he started handing out stockings with food items to neighborhood kids. It grew from there to become an annual tradition.
After Reid’s death, family members continued the event until it was transferred into a charitable trust foundation by Charles Reid’s grandson, Todd Lewis, according to organizer Claudia Lewis. The foundation’s board members and many volunteers now carry the torch.
The event is funded by corporate and private sponsors, notably Chevron, which has been a major donor since the beginning. Other major spon¬sors include Stifel Nicolaus, Mechanics Bank and Rich-mond PAL, which provides its facility to hold the party.
While the thrill of giving hasn’t changed, some of the toys have. One of the more popular gifts given away were scooters. Dozens of smiling young people toted shiny new scooters from the RPAL build-ing.
As the Charles Reid Foundation works closely with the NFL Players Association, most Santas are retired foot¬ball players, Claudia Lewis said.
“Some have attended the event when they were kids and now go full circle by being Santa,” she said.
One parent, Maria, said she’s grateful that her kids can have a great Christmas thanks to the foundation’s efforts.
“Many parents said that it was important that their chil¬dren have a good Christmas season and all agreed how important the toy giveaway was to their families and the com¬munity,” she said.

Mike Kinney

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Activism

Oakland Post: Week of November 27 – December 3, 2024

The printed Weekly Edition of the Oakland Post: Week of November 27 – December 3, 2024, 2024

Published

6 days ago

November 30, 2024

Oakland Post

To enlarge your view of this issue, use the slider, magnifying glass icon or full page icon in the lower right corner of the browser window.

Oakland Post

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Community

El Sobrante Library to Celebrate 5 Years Since Rising from Ashes

After being ravaged by a fire in 2018, the El Sobrante Library rose from the ashes and reopened to the public the following year on Sept. 19, 2019. In honor of that milestone, library officials will host the “Fifth Birthday” of the remodeled space from 1-3:30 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 23.

Published

2 weeks ago

November 25, 2024

Oakland Post

El Sobrante Library. Photo courtesy of Contra Costa County Libraries.

The Richmond Standard

After being ravaged by a fire in 2018, the El Sobrante Library rose from the ashes and reopened to the public the following year on Sept. 19, 2019.

In honor of that milestone, library officials will host the “Fifth Birthday” of the remodeled space from 1-3:30 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 23.

The party will include crafts and activities for all ages, face-painting, commemorative button-making, a local author book display and fun and creative photo opportunities. It will culminate at 2:30 p.m. with a lion dance and kung fu performance.

“We’re throwing a party to celebrate this milestone with entertainment and activities for all ages,” library officials said.

After the 2018 fire, the library building was “stripped down to the studs and rebuilt with accessible features, a modern design, and a whole new feeling,” they said.

Oakland Post

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Activism

OCCUR Hosts “Faith Forward” Conference in Oakland

The conference featured Congresswoman-elect Lateefah Simon, who will begin her term representing California’s 12th Congressional District in the U.S. House of Representatives in January.
Simon was honored with a special recognition from OCCUR for her civic and nonprofit leadership.

Published

2 weeks ago

November 24, 2024

Oakland Post

President and CEO of OCCUR addresses the audience at OCCUR Faith Forward 2024 Conference at Resurrection Church. Photo by Carla Thomas.

By Carla Thomas

The Oakland Citizens Committee for Urban Renewal (OCCUR) hosted its Faith Forward 2024 Conference on Nov. 8 at Resurrection Church in Oakland.

The conference featured Congresswoman-elect Lateefah Simon, who will begin her term representing California’s 12^th Congressional District in the U.S. House of Representatives in January.

Simon was honored with a special recognition from OCCUR for her civic and nonprofit leadership. During her remarks, She commended nonprofits making a difference, and shared how she looked forward to representing Oakland and surrounding areas.

Simon also encouraged attendees to continue fighting despite their concerns about the presidential election results. She also cautioned that there may be resources that are discontinued as a result.

“We know the assignment. We have many of the resources right within our own community, and we will be ok,” Simon assured the audience.

The conference led by OCCUR president, Dr. David B. Franklin, also featured panels on funding opportunities, case studies, economic development, sustainable housing solutions, and organizing for action.

“In order for organizations serving the community to thrive, everyone must collaborate, share resources, and not operate in silos,” said Franklin.

Speakers included San Francisco Foundation CEO, Fred Blackwell, San Francisco Foundation FAITHS Program Director Dr. Michelle Chambers, and Kingmakers of Oakland Founder, Chris Chatmon. Guests were briefed on how Kingmakers of Oakland has gone from a budget of zero to several million and is set to acquire 200 acres of property to expand their programs serving young boys. The leadership at the San Francisco Foundation encouraged nonprofits, churches, and community leaders to work together, especially when donations and funding numbers are lower.

Ben Bartlett of Berkeley City Council; Trevor Parham, CEO of Oakstop; and CEO of the Lao Family Community Development, Inc., Kathy Chao Rothberg, inspired attendees with stories about their journeys in the nonprofit sector.

Additional speakers included Deka Dike, CEO of Omatachi; Landis Green, CEO of DGS Strategies; Sasha Werblin, Director of Economic Development, LISC Bay Area; Oakland City Councilmember Treva Reid; Faith and Justice Organizer of East Bay Housing Organizations, Ronnie Boyd; and Todd Bendon, Executive Director of Faith in Action East Bay; among others.

The event allowed community leaders, faith-based leaders, and nonprofits to gain Insight on how to strengthen their profits financially, and communally.

OCCUR has served the community for over 70 years supporting the wellbeing of historically marginalized communities with collaborative strategies. For more information visit occurnow.org