In 2006, the Don Bosco Centers were instrumental to the Kizine family's ability to celebrate Christmas. This family of five enrolled in Don Bosco's Holiday Friends program after a tough year. Their youngest son, Ashton, was diagnosed with a rare form of kidney cancer, and the medical expenses made it difficult for the family to maintain their regular household responsibilities. It was only through the generosity of a Holiday Friends donor who adopted the family for the holidays that the Kizines were able to celebrate with gifts for their children. The Don Bosco Centers and its Holiday Friends program would help this family celebrate the last Christmas they would have with six-year-old Ashton.

2007 was the tenth anniversary for Holiday Friends. The program connects donors interested in assisting those in need during the holidays to single parents, senior citizens, individuals and families that live at or below USA Poverty Guidelines. “Those who register for the Holiday Friends program would probably have to go without Christmas if not for the generosity of our donors,” said Carla Brewer, Director of Don Bosco’s Family Support Center. “These individuals and families struggle to meet basic needs like food and rent. They don’t have a lot of extra resources to spend on making the holidays memorable for their children.”

Approximately 2,000 individuals were adopted through the Holiday Friends program this year through the generosity of Don Bosco supporters who let their voices be heard.

Have a story to share? E-mail Jennifer Anthony at janthony@donbosco.org.