Thank you for your support and we hope to see you there!

Furthermore, a Redlands boys group home, Riverstones, which consists of two houses, received gifts. These young men (12 in all) either have no families or are not allowed to live with family members usually don’t see much Christmas gifts coming their way during this season. Other children that received Christmas gifts and cheer were kids living with an ill parent or not having the advantage of having a Christmas at all.

Many thanks to all our sponsors that made this Christmas very special and memorable in the lives of children! You are our
heroes.

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The Guardian Foundation presents our 4th Annual “Fulfill a Child’s Wish!”

“Be a Gift-Giver and fulfill the Christmas dreams of kids in need of joy and cheer!”
The Guardian Foundation is looking to sponsor 50 kids from Franklin Elementary School in Redlands with new toys and clothes.  In addition, we will be sponsoring 12 young men from River Stones Residential Inc. in Redlands.

At least 80% of the population at Franklin Elementary School is homeless or living below the poverty line.  Christmas toys and new clothes are only a far-off dream for these children.
River Stones Residential Inc. is a residential living center where young men reside, ages 13-18, because they do not have families that can support them, or do not have any family at all. We are looking for sponsors to help fulfill their Christmas dreams.

We are asking for your support in terms of new toys, (ages K-5), store gift cards or monetary donations in an effort to bring joy into the lives of kids.  Any gift you donate will have your name attached with it, as well as any note of cheer you would like to express. Please feel free to use the PayPal button on this website, or mail to our P.O. Box. *100% of monetary donations will be used to purchase Christmas gifts such as clothes and toys.*

We will be delivering the Christmas gifts at a Christmas party at Franklin on December 15. We will also have a *drop off* reception center on December 11 from 12:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m. at Oasis Church, 1125B Research Drive, Redlands, 92374.

This is a time for any sponsor to drop off wrapped gifts, cards, etc. Please feel free to sponsor a child from the list below and write him/her your own personal note of cheer.

More information to come!

Thank you for your enormous kindness in such times as these. Your generosity will never be forgotten by these young people.
Let us bring cheer and brightness this Christmas season!

CLICK ON THE CHRISTMAS LIST TO SEE WHO HAS BEEN SPONSORED
Due to the request of the Franklin Elementary school principal, all sponsored students have been removed from the list.” Thank you for your interest and generosity this Christmas season.

The foundation encourages the children, from age 4 to 19, to write an “ultimate gift” wish list, then matches each child to a sponsor from the Redlands community. For many of the children, the presents they received at the party are the only ones they’ll get this holiday season.

To get to the Dec. 4 party, the children climbed 100 steps from Crescent Avenue to the front entrance of the Burrage Mansion, which was decorated with thousands of Christmas lights, a nativity scene and an 18-foot Christmas tree.

They had sweet treats and entertainment provided by members of the YMCA circus program. Inside the mansion they saw Irish dancers and an adagio acrobatic act. Then the crowd moved to an outside amphitheater to see Chinese pole acrobatics and a jumpboard act. The Bradley Vail band provided musical entertainment. “The kids were all dressed up, very respectful and had great manners – I’m so impressed,” said Darnelle Mason, Guardian Foundation executive director.

Sponsors were invited to the party to meet the children who received their gifts. “We just want all these kids to know they are worth something,” Mason said. “Someone values them.” The Guardian Foundation facilitates mentoring programs and special events for children in distress, those suffering from abuse or neglect, or with terminal illnesses.

Information: http://Guardiansite.org
SOURCE: Ellen Timothy, executive director of the Burrage Mansion’s Rochford Foundation

Staff Writer
Posted: 11/11/2010 07:38:22 PM PST

The Guardian Foundation will hold its third annual Fulfill a Child’s Wish event 2 to 4 p.m. Dec. 4 at the Burrage Mansion.

The Christmas program will feature live entertainment, including Irish dancers, a Chinese pole act, adagio circus acts and more. There will also be a variety of Christmas desserts. The event is for children with HIV/AIDS or other serious illnesses and for children living in places other than their homes due to physical or sexual abuse or neglect.

“We have the privilege of being part of the process of mending these children by letting them know that they are not `invisible’ and unworthy but are a cherished part of our society and worthy recipients of care and generosity,” said Darnelle Mason, president of the Guardian Foundation.

The Guardian Foundation has partnered with Inland Empire Residential Center Inc. and River Stones, both in Redlands, and is also working with youth from other areas of San Bernardino County.
People in the community are invited to sponsor children for the event and fulfill their Christmas wishes.
“We have the power in our hands to bring joy into the lives of these children this Christmas season by fulfilling their wishes,” Mason said.

To sponsor a child, go to the “wish list” at www.guardiansite.org and select a child. Send an e-mail through the Guardian Foundation website, indicating the child’s name and family number and include a mailing address where the child’s “wish list” can be sent. Those who wish to sponsor children should sign up by Nov. 30. Sponsors will receive an invitation to the Dec. 4 event.

Sponsors may donate financially through the Guardian Foundation website or bring the child’s gifts to the event.

Stylists and representatives of the Guardian Foundation show the clock the foundation gave to Mon Amie Salon. From left, Laura Lynn of Fantastic Sams; Daniel Valdez of Mon Amie; Melissa Casey, Mon Amie Salon owner; Ashlie Sampson of Mon Amie; Robert King, vice president of the Guardian Foundation; Darnelle Mason, CEO of the Guardian Foundation; and Victoria Smith and Kathleen Potter, volunteers from Riverside City College. (Photo courtesy of ANGIE TALAVERA/For the Daily Facts) Employees and volunteers at Mon Amie Salon, in collaboration with the Guardian Foundation, recently gave young people free haircuts for the new school year.

The Guardian Foundation is a nonprofit public charity that seeks to provide assistance to needy kids in the Inland Empire, primarily in Redlands and the surrounding area.

The foundation provides two events annually – “Back to School” at the beginning of the school year and “Fulfill a Child’s Wish” in December.

This year more than 40 children received a free fully loaded backpack with a Target or Forever 21 gift card.

These kids are foster children living in residential homes or from HIV-positive families and financially needy families.

Mon Amie Salon, at 111 Cajon St., opened in August 2009. Its owner, Melissa Casey, said she had been on the lookout for opportunities to give back to the community but didn’t know where to begin looking.

When her employee Ashlie Sampson told her about the Guardian Foundation and its back-to-school project, Casey agreed to open her salon for a “cut-athon” for the kids.

Four volunteers from Fantastic Sams in Redlands, Riverside City College Cosmetology School and Marinello School of Beauty and three Mon Amie employees offered services to 15 young people who had never seen the inside of a hair salon, let alone had their hair styled professionally.

Boys from a Redlands residential living home entered the salon not knowing what to expect, but left with big smiles, the stylists said.

Girls who had never had the opportunity to enter a salon were awed and perhaps a little scared, the stylists said, but left the salon feeling like top models, according to the stylists.

“We wanted to spoil each kid and make them feel good about themselves,” Ashlie Sampson said.

“We wanted all these kids to know that the community cares for them and they are special,” said Victoria Smith and Kathleen Potter, volunteers from Riverside City College Cosmetology School.

“We feel so honored to be able to volunteer our services.” Daniel Valdez, one of Mon Amie’s stylists, said, “This is such a cool opportunity that I am proud to be part of. It is so important for young people to feel confident about themselves.”

Laura Lynn, an employee of Fantastic Sams in Redlands, said her boss allowed her to reschedule so she could be volunteer her services on the back-to-school haircutting day. Lynn said she loves to give back to the community.

Darnelle Mason, founder and CEO of the Guardian Foundation, presented a clock to Mon Amie Salon with an inscription expressing appreciation for the salon’s dedication to young people.
“Our foundation is a new one, having been in existence since 2008,” Mason said, “and in the past two years we have not had any organization step up with such initiative and enthusiasm for volunteering their services as this salon has.

“I hope that other Redlands businesses follow in their admirable example. Surely, there are plenty of kids that will benefit from it.”

On September 11 beginning at ten in the morning, employees and volunteers from the Mon Amie Salon in Redlands in collaboration with The Guardian Foundation offered young people free haircuts for their new school year.

The Guardian Foundation is a non-profit, public charity that seeks to provide assistance to needy kids in the Inland Empire, primarily in Redlands and the surrounding area. The foundation provides two events annually; “Back to School” and “Fulfill a Child’s Wish” in August and December. This year over 40 children received a free fully-loaded backpack with a Target or Forever 21 gift card. These kids are foster kids living in residential homes, also from HIV+ families, as well as severely financially needy families.

Mon Amie Salon at 111 Cajon, Redlands opened its doors in August 1, 2009. Its owner, Melissa Casey, has been on the lookout for opportunities to give back to the community but didn’t know where to begin looking. When her employee, Ashlie Sampson, told her about the Guardian Foundation and their Back to School project, Melissa quickly agreed to open her salon for a ‘cut-a-thon’ for all the kids.

Four volunteers from Fantastic Sam’s in Redlands, Riverside City College (RCC) Cosmetology School, Marinellas School of Beauty, as well as three Mon Amie’s employees offered their services to 15 young people who have never seen the inside of a hair salon let alone get their hair styled professionally. Boys from a Redlands residential living home entered the salon not knowing what to expect but left with big, bright smiles! Girls never having the opportunity to enter a salon were awed and perhaps, a little scared but left the salon feeling like top models!

“We wanted to spoil each kid and make them feel good about themselves,” Ashlie stated. Victoria Smith and Kathleen Potter, volunteers from RCC Cosmetology School also stated, “We wanted all these kids to know that the community cares for them and they are special. We feel so honored to be able to volunteer our services.” Further, Daniel Valdez, one of Mon Amie’s stylists says, “This is such a cool opportunity that I am proud to be part of. It is so important for young people to feel confident about themselves.” Laura Lynn, an employee from Fantastic Sam’s in Redlands, stated that her boss allowed her to reschedule so she could be volunteer her services today. She loves to give back to the community, and Laura Lynn’s boss supported her commitment.

Darnelle Mason, founder and CEO of The Guardian Foundation, presented a clock to the Mon Amie Salon with the inscription, “To Mon Amie Salon on this date, September 11, 2010, with appreciation to your dedication to young people, The Guardian Foundation.”
Darnelle also stated that, “Our Foundation is a new one, having been in existence since 2008, and in the past two years we have not had any organization step up with such initiative and enthusiasm for volunteering their services as this salon has. I hope that other Redlands businesses follow in their admirable example. Surely, there are plenty of kids that will benefit from it.”
For more information on The Guardian Foundation, please go to: www.guardiansite.org

For more information on the Mon Amie Salon, please go to: www.themonamiesalon.com

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Please come to “Market Night” in Redlands this Thursday evening and join the
festivities while we seek to raise awareness of the foundations’s mission, as well as
our “Fulfill a Child’s Wish” Christmas event.

We wish to thank the following Redlands businesses for their generosity towards “our” kids:

Ozel Jewelers
A Rolling Stone Beads and Gifts
J M Hello Photography
Star Tulip Stuffies
The Gourmet Pizza Shoppe – Redlands
Hands of Grace Massage Therapy – Grand Terrace

We hope to see you there!