Children’s Holiday Wish Program Background

Genesis

1989

That summer Claude DeLosh, a charter member of the Bloomfield Hills Optimist Club, was concerned to hear one of his customers comment on how many underprivileged and disadvantaged children lived in communities neighboring the Bloomfield's.  Soon after, at their weekly breakfast Optimist meeting, he and fellow member Fernando Garcia discussed the paradox of wealth and poverty residing side-by-side and the vision of the “Children’s Holiday Wish Program” was born. 

Milestones

1989

Program initiated by Optimists members who bought, wrapped and personally delivered 150 gifts to the homes of underprivileged children.

1995

Oakland-Livingston Human Services Agency works with the Optimists to identify disadvantaged children (150% below poverty level) who might otherwise not have a meaningful holiday season.  About 500 children were targeted for gifts that year.

1998

Dramatic growth forced a change in logistics to accommodate the increased number of children served by the Optimists.  Names of “at-risk” students with special needs were added.  Over 1000 presents were bought, wrapped and delivered to schools prior to the holiday recess.

2000

Organic, Inc. volunteered use of its lower level of offices (plus a covered, heated garage) to wrap, store, and load gifts onto trucks for delivery.  The Bloomfield Township police and fire departments joined as volunteers.  Program grew to over 1300 children receiving gifts in the $35-40 range.

2002-07

The continued increase in program recipients dictated a push to increase the number of volunteers and sponsoring organizations associated with the program.  In 2002 OLHSA identified over 1800 children who were worthy of receiving presents under the at-risk or disadvantaged guidelines.  Growth continued as slightly over 2600 gifts were wrapped and delivered in 2007.

2008

The current dire state of our local economy leads us to believe there will be about 2700 children identified for our program this year. We will embark on a program to increase the number of sponsoring companies, increase the number of adult volunteers, and seek assistance from Bloomfield Hills high schools and others for community service volunteers in order to handle the expected growth in requests for support.

2009

OLHSA believes there will be about 2200 children identified for our program this year. The Optimists will embark on a program to increase the number of sponsoring companies, increase the number of adult volunteers, and seek assistance from the Bloomfield Hills high schools for community service volunteers in order to handle the expected growth in requests for support.  Please contact Brian MacKenzie at bjmacken@comcast.net, if you wish to volunteer to helpthe Optimists or could identify future sponsoring organizations.