Charities:

Your patronage of this wonderful family festival means so much more than treasured holiday memories.  Each year a portion of the ticket sales benefits charities that help a broad cross-section of our community.  Thank you for helping us help those in need.  In 2009 your support of the festival will benefit:

Dolores Swoyer Camp Scholarship Fund

Named in loving memory of the daughter of former Planning Commissioner and citizen activist Dolores Swoyer, this fund offers summer camp opportunities to City of Gaithersburg residents who might not otherwise be afforded these enriching educational and recreational experiences.

Ms. Swoyer served on the Planning Commission for 17 years and during her tenure a new era of mixed-use zoning and planning charrettes led to the trend of neo-traditional neighborhoods in Gaithersburg. She and her family were also active in helping create the original master plan for recreation in 1977.

Each year dozens of young people are able to participate in the myriad of summer camp opportunities through the Swoyer scholarship program.

For more information please call 301-258-6350.

Friends of Seneca Creek State Park

This nonprofit volunteer organization is dedicated to the enhancement of the park experience for visitors by providing financial support and other resources to the park.

The “Friends” group evolved from the Seneca Greenway Coalition, which worked with Seneca Creek State Park, the Maryland Department of Natural Resources, and the Montgomery County Park and Planning to develop a 26-mile hiking trail along Seneca Creek and Great Seneca Creek.

Since the time the trail was completed, the organization has worked with park personnel to expand the vision of the group and to provide financial assistance to Seneca Creek State Park through the fundraising capability of the nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization.

For more information please call 301-924-2127.

Gaithersburg HELP

IIn 1968, the faith community of Gaithersburg recognized that emergencies happen quickly and government assistance takes time. To meet these immediate needs, congregations of churches and synagogues formed Gaithersburg HELP to provide short-term assistance in a coordinated fashion. Services include supplies of food, essential medications, diapers and formula, and transportation to medical and social service appointments.

Now more than 25 congregations join in this network to help neighbors in the greater Gaithersburg community. Gaithersburg HELP also receives substantial support from private individuals, local businesses and civic organizations. All services are provided by a network of more than 200 volunteers, working together in a common concern for others as an expression of love for their neighbors. The organization provided emergency assistance in more than 5,300 situations in 2008 .

For more information please call 301-216-2510 Box 2.

Shady Grove Adventist Hospital Neonatal Intensive Care Unit

The Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) at Shady Grove Adventist Hospital provides the highest level of infant care available in the state of Maryland. The 27-bed NICU has an expert staff and state-of-the-art lifesaving equipment to care for premature and acutely ill infants as well as those who have just had surgery. Additionally, a highly trained and specialized Neonatal Transport Team brings critically ill or very premature babies from other hospitals to NICU.

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Every baby in the NICU has his or her own “primary” neonatalogist who manages the baby’s care from the time of admission until it’s time for the infant to go home. All of the neonatalogists are certified by the American Board of Pediatrics as experts in neonatal-perinatal medicine. Additionally, there are specially-trained pediatricians and nurses to provide care for the infants in NICU.

For more information please call 301-279-6000.