Navidad in the Neighborhood Overview

Navidad has been serving predominantly minority children 12 and under in low-income communities for nearly 20 years.  Our non-profit children’s charity has enjoyed partnerships with over 163 local social service agencies, schools, churches and recreation centers in Dallas, Tarrant, Collin, Johnson and Denton counties. 

Navidad is the only organization in DFW whose sole mission is to collect books, learning toys and sports equipment year-round through the volunteerism of corporations and individuals.  We are addressing two of the most important concerns of today’s families: literacy and physical fitness. 

Each year, Navidad distributes MORE gifts changing lives:

• Annually through the Holiday Gift Campaign, agencies nominate and register families who meet 150% of the national poverty level guidelines to receive a leaning toy and a book or a learning toy and a piece of sports equipment for their children for Christmas.  Navidad has given over 309,214 gifts in the last eleven years!
• Due to community need, Navidad created an enhanced focus on literacy and Fall into Reading projects and were able to put more than 127,669 new books directly into the hands of children during the last three years to encourage reading. 
• Noticing a shortage of 12 years-of-age and under youth volunteer opportunities, Navidad held Saturday Serve: Youth Community Service projects which are ½ day community service learning activities.  Last year, approximately 100 elementary students, siblings and parents transplanted more than 2,000 trees from 2-gallon buckets to 5-gallon buckets at the Hamilton Park Tree Farm.
• Local reports of minority children being increasingly overweight caused Spring into Sports projects to be launched.  It encourages youth physical fitness and since 2006, Navidad gave away 11,261 sports balls (soccer, football, basketball and baseball) and hosts Family Fitness Festivals and Ball Blasts each year also.

Navidad operates in some of DFW's more economically disadvantaged neighborhoods in local cities including Arlington, Burleson, Carrollton, Dallas, Denton, Farmers Branch, Fort Worth, Grand Prairie, Irving, Jacksboro, McKinney, Plano, Oak Cliff and Venus. 

Navidad is giving gifts changing lives, helping families build healthy, well-rounded youth by giving minority at-risk children tools to:

• Build social skills and emotional development through play 
• Build a love for reading
• Build good healthy habits that include sports and exercise

Build good citizenship and volunteer in the community

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