2nd Annual Give and Smile Toy Drive

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Testimonial

"I was so happy to hear that Michael Lee stepped up to organize the annual toy drive last year, as early head start foothill square faced the possibility of going without. It felt amazing to mobilize people to give both practical and fun items to benefit such a worthy and critical community program. I look forward to doing the same this year."

-Ebony O.

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2010 TOY DRIVE

"Every child should be able to experience the magic of the holidays.By giving back, I hope that I am able to put a smile on a child's face so they may enjoy the holidays as I did at their age."

- Kara S.

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Testimonial

"I think what Give a Gift & Get a Smile is doing is amazing work. It feels great to give back in a small way but make a big difference in a community that has given me so much! "

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- David H.

VOLUNTEER STORIES

our very first toy drive

On December 15, 2010, we had our 1st annual toy drive. It was a success! We and we were not only able to get the minimum items for 113 children, but we were able to give to their older siblings and provide toys, games and books for the school.We are extremely thankful for all of your assistance and hopeful that you will continue to contribute as we cannot do it without you!
"We are all so grateful for the opportunity to work with Michael Lee and help him craft his vision of Give a Gift & Get a Smile. This has been a rewarding experience for us and we love the feeling of making a difference."- Gabrielle Wiley
About us

Mission

The mission of the Give a Gift & Get a Smile (GGGS) Network is to give back in positive and meaningful ways to the Oakland, California community. Founded in 2010, we strive to create events that uplift and provide assistance for less fortunate children. GGGS has implemented an annual holiday toy, clothing and book drive where donations directly benefit the Foothill Square Early Head Start Program of Oakland. Within the next year GGGS plans to expand our reach and provide additional programs, which will continue to aid the children of Oakland as well as their families.

Michael LeeMichael Lee is a native Californian who was raised in Oakland and attended St. Elizabeth High School. After high school, he decided to leave home to attend Southern University in Baton Rouge, Louisiana where he first experienced being on his own. While away, Lee learned a lot about himself, his passions and his motivations except he was always fighting an urge that kept pulling him back to his roots in Oakland. That urge pulled him back a lot sooner than he expected. What he experienced back home would change the course of his life forever.Unfortunately, returning to Oakland was not exactly the joyful and positive experience he was expecting. Almost right away he was met with some unexpected and adverse incidents starting with a near fatal accident where he almost lost his father. Shortly after that, he was involved in a situation which placed him in a compromised position and he found himself on the other side of the law. It was right then and there that Lee knew he had to change his trajectory because this was not how he envisioned his story or how he wanted it to end. This would not just be his first and only run in with the law, but also his first experience with a social worker, which was a vast difference from the way he grew up. He was thankful and blessed for the support and guidance he was given during this time, which helped him understand his mistake and move forward with clearer direction and a redesign of his life blueprint. Given his personal experience, he was instantly intrigued by helping others, and knew a mistake did not instantly define you. Change was possible with the proper guidance, direction and support. In hindsight, Lee knows that this experience, people he met along his journey, and his return to his roots strongly influenced his life goals. With this experience behind him but the lessons never forgotten, he was eager and poised for a fresh start.In 2004, Lee moved to New York and quickly secured a position with the 92nd Street YM/WHA, working with children ages 4-6, as Senior Counselor of their summer camp which then afforded him a full-time position with the YM/WHA. He was excited to land such a wonderful position as it helped him get closer to his goal of helping, supporting and working with children. Even though his work with the elite youth of New York was rewarding, it was not exactly what he envisioned as his ultimate path. Lee still had a passion and desire to help under-served youth and knew that it was a matter of time before he had to make another change. He found a position at a New York City public elementary school working with underprivileged children in a support role. Here, he started to mold and draw similarities with the under-served community in New York City and that of Oakland.Near the end of his time in New York, he was met with yet another life hurdle. He lost everything in a home fire, which to some would have been a paralyzing incident he persevered. This experience and the outpour of support from family and friends coupled with his desire to help others solidified his belief that in this world you cannot go at it alone and you always need the helping hand of others to get through life. Lee had a benefit of having a vast support system, which helped him yet again bounced back. He was able to continue his journey in New York.After spending nearly five years in New York, it was time to return to the Bay Area and begin to put all the pieces together. He reflected on everything he had experienced in his life and realized that he wanted to pursue a career as social worker because it was a way to answer his desires to work with the under-served community, help others and give back to his community. Once the decision was made to make the move, he was accepted to San Francisco State Universitys School of Social Work.Lee knows that ones journey can give you unexpected twists and turns but the real art of life is in how you embrace the lessons and experiences and how you use your canvas to create your story."You can't connect the dots looking forward; you can only connect them looking backwards. So you have to trust that the dots will somehow connect in your future. You have to trust in something -- your gut, destiny, life, karma, whatever. This approach has never let me down, and it has made all the difference in my life." Steve Jobs

The team

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"Giving a donation to the Give a gift, Get a smile toy drive gave me a opportunity to do something for our city youth, and well as it put a smile on my face knowing I helped someone else."

-EL-Khalid McCree-Owner Royal Family Vending

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"I am grateful and thankful for everyone who has contributed to making Give a Gift & Get a Smile a reality. Without you being a part of the GGGS network our mission could not be achieved.

I would like to give a special thank you to the core group who have been there from the start: Mom & Dad , A. Handy, A. Ramos, E. McCree, E. Onoh, G. Wiley, J. Boyd, J. Ng, J. Smith, K. Szalkowski,, K. McClerkins, M. Neptune, M. Mino, M. Ramos Golondrina, S. Fernandez, & S.Tureck."

- Michael Lee

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"Last year, I supported and donated to the Toy Drive launched by my dear cousin Michael Lee. Not only was I proud to see my cousin spearhead such a worthy initiative, I felt good knowing that the donated toys were going to be personally delivered by my cousin to charitable organizations in Oakland. I encourage those that can, to donate a toy or your time to the 2011 Give a Gift & Get a Smile Toy Drive! 'Tis the Season of giving!"

-Monica Poindexter

HistoryGive a Gift & Get a Smile (GGGS) was born in November 2010. Through Michael Lees experience helping under-served youth, his education at San Francisco State University, and a class discussion on how to help San Francisco families during the holidays, he had an epiphany. He wanted to figure out a way to help and bring some joy to the youth during the holidays in his community of Oakland, California. It was instantaneous; the Give a Gift & Get a Smile network was a living and breathing idea.Lee knew that he could not do this alone and rallied family and friends to assist with the donations of toys, clothing and books for the Foothill Square Early Head Start Program of Oakland. In the infancy stages of GGGS, exceeded its goal to provide toys, clothing and books for the 113 children ages 6 months to 3 years old. Additionally GGGS went above and beyond collecting items for their older siblings as well as games and books for the school to use for educational purposes.Now in its 2nd year, GGGS hopes to continue its success and build the momentum necessary to sustain and enhance the growth of the organization to benefit the many under-served children and families of Oakland.
Partners add-page01

Partners

Young Black Lawyers - Northern California (YBL) Somar Bar and LoungeRoyal Family Vending MachinesUncle Willie's BBQAfrican American Networking Group at Gap Inc.
Contact

JOIN US AND VOLUNTEER (510) 508-5993

MAKE A DONATION giveandsmile_gmail.com

FACEBOOK Give a Gift & Get a Smile

TWITTER _GiveandSmileOak

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