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Foundation Will Match Salvation Army Donations

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By SHERRI ACKERMAN | The Tampa Tribune

Published: December 22, 2008

TAMPA - A local family foundation will match donations up to $15,000 made on Christmas Eve to The Salvation Army's Red Kettles.

The Garcia Family Foundation, a regular contributor to other social service agencies such as Big Brothers/Big Sisters and Metropolitan Ministries, agreed to help the army, General Manager Steve Vick said.

The 3-year-old foundation's mission is to provide education, mentoring and training to people in financial need, said trustee Myrna Haag, who also serves on the army's advisory board.

The Salvation Army raised an estimated $330,000 last year, Vick said. His goal is to beat that number by at least a dollar this year. The agency needs to raise about $100,000 between now and the end of the day on Christmas Eve, when it pulls in its bright red kettles and bell-ringers.

The money will go toward feeding and housing needy people and providing emergency assistance year-round.

To make a donation in Hillsborough County that qualifies for the match, look for the bright red kettles in front of Publix, Sam's Club and Wal-Mart stores on Christmas Eve.

Donations made by check are tax-deductible with receipts available by mail. For more information, call (813) 226-0055, ext. 260, or go to www.salvationarmytampa.org.

Reporter Sherri Ackerman can be reached at (813) 259-7144.

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