for the kids! 2022

Every December since 2013, we have held an annual Holiday Fundraiser supporting children and families staying at the Banner Children’s Diamond Children’s Center over Christmas. Since its inception in 2013, our For the Kids! fundraiser has raised over $23,000 for gifts for hundreds of children and family members staying at the hospital.

Why do we call it “for the kids!”?

During our very first Holiday Fundraiser at Gentle Ben’s in 2013, a certain U of A Basketball player (who will remain nameless, but his name rhymes with E.J. McDonald), had a drink with us and proclaimed during his toast that it was “For the Kids!”. The name stuck and we have called it For the Kids! ever since.

THE PROCESS

Our For the Kids! Fundraiser takes place every year around mid-December when we throw a massive holiday party at Gentle Ben’s Brewery. After the party, Gentle Ben’s donates a portion of the night’s sales to our fundraiser. We then take those funds and purchase specific gifts for children and families at the Diamond Children’s Center.

The Wish Lists

The biggest factor that differentiates us from other donors that give to the Diamond Children’s Center are our wishlists. Before COVID, we would go into the hospital and meet with children and their families the week before Christmas to get an idea of what they would like or need for Christmas. We would then buy those specific items, and then return to the hospital the next day with everything wrapped and surprise the kids and their families.

Post COVID, the goal remains the same but the process has changed. We are no longer permitted to walk from patient room to patient room speaking with kids and their families, but thanks to the amazing Child Life Department, Social Work Department and various other volunteers at Banner, we are still able to distribute wish lists to kids and families in the hospital.

We then take those lists, buy everything on them, wrap everything and then return to hospital to drop everything off. We may not be able to see the kids and families open the gifts anymore, but from what we’ve heard, they still have a very big impact on all the recipients.

ftk’22

On December 17th, 2022, we return to Gentle Ben’s to continue our tradition of partying the night away in the name of charity. As they have always done, Gentle Ben’s will be donating a portion of the evening’s sales to our fundraiser. We are so incredibly happy to be back doing what we love, and we can’t wait to raise some money for children and families in need. The details of the event are:

DATE: Saturday, December 17th

TIME: 8PM - 2AM

PLACE: Gentle Ben’s

There is NO COVER and you don’t need to bring anything other than yourself and your 10 closest friends (or strangers?). We will be hosting a raffle, and there will be DJs playing nonstop from 10PM - Close. It’s going to be an amazing time, we can’t wait to see all of your beautiful faces out there.

 We want to spread some light in the world. Join us. #beasource

If you have any questions about anything, please contact us at:

info@alightnetwork.com

If you would like to make a donation to our For the Kids! Holiday Fundraiser, please visit the link below:

100% of all donations will go directly towards the purchase of gifts for children and families at the Banner Children’s Diamond Children’s Center.

Below: photos from our For the Kids! Diamond Children’s Gift Giveaways from 2013 - 2019