African Violet Foundation seeks donations for Christmas for students

The African Violet Foundation,a charity aimed at providing high school students in need with Christmas presents, will provide Christmas gifts for teenagers in need at three area high schools and three area middle schools.

This is the 13th year that the organization has been able to help high school students at Christmas.

The organization was founded in 2006 by Staci Wright in memory of her grandparents, the late John and Ava Topping. Wright's grandparents were known for helping others in need, and her grandmother often sent African Violets as a token of care and concern.

The year of its inception, the African Violet Foundation was successful in helping 33 students at Fairfield High School. The following year, that number doubled. In 2008, a nine-person board of directors was formed and began work on achieving non-profit status. The board of directors was successful in promoting and working for the betterment of the foundation, and in recent years, they have been able to help more as many as 500 students annually at Fairfield, Pekin, and Van Buren high schools and middle schools.

This year AVF will continue to serve students at Fairfield, Pekin, and Van Buren high schools and middle schools. It is the hope of the board to be able to again help 500 or more students with gifts valued at approximately $40 per child. To accomplish this and to ensure that the foundation continues to grow, the board must receive donations from local businesses, churches, service organizations and individuals.

'In a society that is facing a myriad of issues that very often places great strain on students and their families, the need to serve these teenagers becomes increasingly necessary with each passing year,” said Staci Wright, president. 'My mom always says that to whom much is given, much is required. If you have one person who loves you, you have more than some of the students in our local counties.”

To help area teens in need at Christmas, send donations to: The African Violet Foundation, c/o Staci Wright, President; 305 E. Broadway Ave., Fairfield 52556.

For information, call Wright at 919-4306; leave a message if she does not answer.