Can you believe the frantic holiday shopping season is almost here? 

Take some of the stress out of your to-do list by visiting our shopping portal at www.igive.com/FlorinRoadFoundation. 

As the site says, "Searching or Shopping means a donation. It's just that free and easy. A penny or more per search, a $5 bonus for your first purchase and up to 26% of your purchases at over 730 stores like Amazon, eBay, Travelocity, Home Depot, Staples, and many, many more. Plus you SAVE money with exclusive coupons/free shipping deals."

And believe us, these donations do add up and help offset our operational expenses.  And many of our Florin Road corridor merchants participate in the program. Several stores allow you to place your order online and then quickly pick-it up at the store when it's convenient for you.  That's a great way to save time and not have the hassle of standing in long lines.

As a small non-profit, the best part of the igive.com program is that we don't have to pay any fees to participate.  And you won't pay extra to participate, either. The donations come from the stores you search or shop.  It's really a win-win for everyone.  So give it a try today and let us know what you think of the program.  Happy Shopping!

Photos from Our Beach Blanket Bingo Fundraiser

If you haven't been to one of our Beach Blanket Bingo fundraisers, here's what you're missing:

Florin Road Bingo, voted the "Best of Sacramento"
by the Sacramento News and Review

We're going to win big tonight!

  

Wow!
We just won a $400 cash prize on one bingo game. 

  

Aloha!

  

Check out the yummy buffet from Hannibal's Catering & Events.
Yup, even the palm tree fruit display is edible.

Our event always features thousands of dollars
worth of prizes donated by local businesses.

Our happy sponsors from Elk Grove Toyota.
Thanks for your continued support!

A big screen TV,
courtesy of Walmart Super Center at Florin Towne Centre,
has been the Grand Raffle Prize for several of our events.
You can win it for only $1.00!

I can't wait to unwrap my prize!

We LOVE bingo, and we bet you will, too!

Upcoming Community Events for Oct. and Nov. 2010

Looking for something to do with your family or friends? 

Check out these events in our community:

FREE Parent-Teen Workshop Series (presented in HMONG)
Tuesdays, September 28 to November 18, 2010 (6:00 pm to 9:00 pm)
At Phoenix Park Resident Activity Center, 4400 Shining Star Drive, Sacramento.

For more info, please call People Reaching Out at 916-576-3300 or visit their website at http://www.peoplereachingout.org

Learn how to build stronger family relationships, communicate more effectively, and cope with the challenges of the teenage years.

Inside the College Admissions Process
Wednesday, October 27 (6:30 pm)
At Southgate Library, 6132 66th Ave., Sacramento.

Learn how college admissions offices evaluate applications and the differences between the CSU and UC admission processes.

"Meadowboo Mansion" Halloween Event
Friday, October 29 (6:00 pm-8:00 pm)
At Sam Pannell Meadowview Community Center,
2450 Meadowview Rd., Sacramento.

For more info, please call Dori Rhym at 916-808-6920.

A FREE event, but tickets are required. Get them at the front desk, Monday-Friday, 8am-5pm, now through October 28. This event is for kids ages 2-13 who must be accompanied by an adult.

Halloween Carnival

Sunday, October 31 (4:00 pm-8:00 pm)
At Rizal Community Center, Sacramento.

For more info, please call Sheila Surritt at 916-395-0601.

Dress up for a "fang"-tastic candy walk, costume contests, carnival games, and haunted house.

Trunk or Treat Harvest Festival
Sunday, October 31 (6:00 pm)
At Living Hope Church, 7486 Center Parkway, Sacramento.

For more info, please call 916-424-4673.

A safe and fun trick-or-treat alternative where kids gather candy from the trunks of cars parked at the church grounds.

Thank You for Supporting Beach Blanket Bingo

Thank you to all who supported our 8th Annual Beach Blanket Bingo fundraiser last month! 

Not only did we sell out of admission tickets, but for the first time ever, we sold out of raffle tickets.  Over 280 guests from across Northern California gathered at Florin Road Bingo for an evening of fun, raising more than $19,000 to directly benefit schools and non-profits in the Florin Road community. 

We are grateful to all who made this event a success, including:  Sacramento Consolidated Charities (event host), Nick Toma from "Good Day Sacramento" (emcee), Hannibal's Catering and Events, and The Bolt Bar. 

Many thanks to renewing sponsors Pacific Gas and Electric Company (Diamond sponsor), Plumbers and Pipefitters Local 447 and Walmart Foundation (Gold sponsors), Construction and General Laborers' Local 185 and Elk Grove Toyota (Silver sponsors), and California School Employees Association (Bronze sponsor).  We are pleased to announce that the Cement Masons Local 400 also became a supporter this year through their Bronze sponsorship.

An immediate beneficiary of our Beach Blanket Bingo event was Parkway Elementary School in Sacramento.  Since 2002, the Florin Road Foundation has presented awards to their students who have outstanding scores on the state-mandated STAR test. 

The number of eligible students has grown by leaps-and-bounds over the years, from 11 students in 2002 to a record 315 students in 2010!  This year's award winners were recognized at a special school ceremony and were presented with DollarTree gift cards from the Florin Road Foundation.  We are so proud of our Parkway Eagles - keep up the good work!

Please Save the Date for our 9th Annual Beach Blanket Bingo - Thursday, September 22, 2011!

Welcome!

Hello and welcome to our new blog featuring news and events from the Florin Road community in Sacramento, California. 

We're excited to be using this new tool to communicate with you.  Please bear with us as we learn the ins-and-outs of using Blogger.  We look forward to your questions, comments, and yes, even your constructive criticisms.