Springboard Helps Brighten Holiday for Needy Inland Empire Children

December 21, 2009, 10:56 am

Agency donates 100 Christmas stockings full of gifts to area youngsters

Springboard Nonprofit Consumer Credit Management is donating 100 Christmas stockings to help make this holiday brighter for Inland Empire children in need. "Inspired by Springboard Chief Financial Officer Marlisa Hodgin, Springboard commenced its first annual Christmas stocking donation," said Melinda Opperman senior vice president of community outreach and industry relations. "The agency is donating the stockings to help needy Inland Empire youngsters receive gifts they otherwise may not have received without the help of donations," said Opperman.

Because of Springboard's commitment to helping others, 100 needy children will receive Christmas gifts. Springboard is distributing the Christmas stockings to community organizations, schools and churches that identified girls and boys in great need. Springboard's SERVICE members stuffed the stockings at the agency's headquarters in Riverside. SERVICE stands for Springboard Employees Recognize Volunteerism In our Community & Environment.

"We're pleased to be able to assist families in need this Christmas," said Hodgin. "This is a difficult economic climate and many area families are not able to purchase gifts for children this year. Springboard feels humbled and fortunate to make the children's holiday season brighter," said Hodgin.

Springboard SERVICE members are delivering the stockings now through Christmas Eve to organizations, schools and churches in cities throughout Riverside and San Bernardino Counties. The stockings include toiletries, socks, holiday candy, toys and a gift card.

Springboard's SHINE Center, also located in Riverside, has been a beacon of hope to an area facing the worst economic crisis in 60 years. The agency assists individuals and families on a daily basis with credit counseling, housing counseling, debt and money management through educational programs and confidential counseling. Springboard has helped thousands of Inland Empire residents with free counseling in the areas of homeownership preservation and foreclosure prevention, credit and debt counseling, and pre-purchase home buyer education this year.

For more information, contact: Sheri Stuart, Senior Communications Specialist

Springboard Nonprofit Consumer Credit Management is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit personal financial education and counseling organization founded in 1974. Springboard is a HUD-approved housing counseling agency and a member of the National Foundation for Credit Counseling, a national organization of nonprofit credit counseling agencies, and a member of the Association of Independent Credit Counseling Agencies. The agency offers personal financial education and assistance with credit counseling, housing counseling, debt and money management through educational programs and confidential counseling. Springboard is accredited by the Council on Accreditation, signifying the highest standards for agency governance, fiscal integrity, counselor certification and service delivery policies. The agency provides pre-bankruptcy counseling and debtor education as mandated by the bankruptcy reform law. The agency offers nationwide phone counseling services and has locations in California, Arizona, Nevada, New Mexico and Texas for in-person counseling sessions. Not all types of counseling are available in-person at all locations, please call for details. For more information on Springboard, call 800-449-9818 or visit their web site at www.credit.org.

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