The Willow Glen Resident

Around The Glen

Holiday Internet site aims to help young kids in need

Charity will be going online Nov. 21 when "Homepage for the Holidays" makes its second annual appearance on the Internet. Sponsored by the United Way and KPIX-TV, the Web site will list the names and gift wishes of more than 2,000 children and teens in eight Bay Area counties, including Santa Clara, who wouldn't otherwise receive a present this yuletide season.

Potential cyber-Santas can visit the site and, with a click of a mouse button, choose a child to give a gift to. After the browser selects the desired item, it will be dropped off at a local UPS customer counter or Sears Automotive Center, and UPS will deliver free of charge.

"The Web site is a way of combining technology with real life. It gives it a human side," United Way spokesman Dave Bueche said.

With the help of Sears and UPS, last year's effort brought in gifts for more than 1,500 children. The home page was able to attract the support of even more businesses this year, including the Embarcadero Center, Hard Rock Cafe, HELPLINK, KCBS-AM, Mervyn's and Target.

Bueche expects the response to be even greater this year. "I even got a call from Norway last night," he said with a laugh. "It's such an easy way to make the holidays special for low-income kids," he said.

Several Bay Area companies like PG&E and UPS have set up hotlinks from their own Web sites to provide visitors and employees with direct access to "Homepage for the Holidays." To make gift-giving even more convenient, Web surfers can shop for gifts online or arrange for UPS to pick them up from a home or business for a nominal fee.

Those who wish to help the old-fashioned way can call HELPLINK at 1-800-273-6222 and use their VISA, MasterCard or American Express to make a donation toward the purchase of gifts for children not chosen. Checks can also be mailed to: "Homepage for the Holidays," c/o United Way of Bay Area, 50 California St., Suite 200, San Francisco, 94111.

--Annette Ha

Children's theater company seeks kids for auditions

Kids between ages 6 and 12 who are looking for a little holiday diversion can check out the San Jose Children's Musical Theater. On Dec. 16 and 17 at 5 p.m., open auditions will be held for the troupe's Junior Series production of Rodgers and Hammerstein's Cinderella.

Registration will begin half an hour before each audition session, which will take place at the theater's headquarters on 1401 Parkmoor Ave. (at Meridian and Highway 280) in San Jose. An $80 workshop fee is required upon registration, though Children's Musical Theater provides limited scholarships during auditions.

According to marketing director Nancy Rivera, the theater will continue its practice of casting every child who auditions. "The people who founded this theater wanted it to be a place where kids could come and have fun and be creative."

She stressed the idea that the productions are a way for children, especially younger ones, to learn about theater and develop an interest in it. "We try to give them an experience as opposed to a competition," she said.

Cinderella, featuring such classic songs as "Impossible," and "Do I Love You Because You're Beautiful," will begin performances Feb. 19, 1998, at the Montgomery Theater in downtown San Jose. It will be the second production of the upcoming 30th anniversary season, which will start Dec. 5 of this year with Fiddler on the Roof.

For more information, call San Jose Musical Theater at 408/288-KIDS.

--Annette Ha

Support the arts while paying taxes

Supporting the arts has never been more convenient for Willow Glen residents. With a simple lick of a stamp, they can now help performing and visual arts groups throughout Santa Clara County. A joint effort on the part of the Arts Council of Santa Clara County, the county Board of Supervisors, the county assessor's office and the county tax collector has produced a three-year experimental program. Last month, 400,000 households received Invest in the Arts donation coupons attached to their property tax bills.

Property owners have until Dec. 10 to pay the first half of their bills without penalty, and a separate check made out to the Arts Council can be included in the same envelope. All contributions are tax-deductible and will be acknowledged by the council.

"This is a successful example of public and private partnership working," said Jim Beall, chair of the Board of Supervisors. "One hundred percent of the contributions go right back into the community."

The Arts Council, a nonprofit group devoted to building community through the arts, has distributed more than $3 million within the last six years to arts organizations, artists, schools, community groups and social service agencies.

This year alone, more than 90 groups in 12 South Bay cities were awarded grants. Among the current recipients are Arte Flamenco de San Jose, the Triton Museum of Art and the South Valley Symphony.

"Without the grants, the groups would have to do more of their own one-on-one fundraising," said Bruce Davis, executive director of the council. "We help them get to their goals faster and allow them to spend more time creating their art."

County assessor Larry Stone urged Santa Clara residents to contribute. "This is a quick, easy way to make a difference, and this one is tax-deductible."

For credit card donations, please call the Arts Council at 408/998-2787. For a complete list of grants or additional information about the Invest in the Arts program, contact Artis Buerki at 408/866-5575.

--Annette Ha

CityTeam Ministries needs donations for Thanksgiving gifts

Each year, CityTeam Ministries puts together a Thanksgiving package for the county's needy. The group delivers baskets stacked with a frozen turkey, canned soup and canned fruits and vegetables to the homes of families who otherwise could not afford a meal. However, this year, CityTeam says donations have been especially light, and they fear not everyone who needs food will get some.

"It's like Thanksgiving has become a forgotten holiday," said City Team's Rick Rahn. "I wish it could be different, but it always comes down to the last couple of days."

By Nov. 26, CityTeam needs 4,200 frozen turkeys, as well as canned soup, canned fruits and vegetables and other nonperishable food items. Five-thousand families are waiting for food boxes, and another 3,500 are expected to come to a Thanksgiving dinner that the organization is hosting at a food kitchen.

Deliver donations to CityTeam's Family Service Center at 11297 N. 13th St. (at Charles) in San Jose or to one of CityTeam's remote pickup sites, including Save Mart Supermarkets, the Lundy post office and the San Jose Water Company.

--Cecily Barnes

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