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Finance & Administrative Services

2025 Holiday Giving Challenge

Winter scene

8th Annual Holiday Giving Challenge

From Monday, November 17 through Tuesday, December 23, FAS colleagues are invited to collaborate with others in your department and subdivision to contribute time and/or resources to worthy causes throughout our community. The FAS team with the most creative and impactful giving idea will receive special recognition! As always, participation is 100% voluntary.
 

The Details:  

  • Form a team of your office mates and department colleagues. 
  • Identify giving projects to participate in as a team. Each team may choose multiple projects; however, participation must occur between November 17 and December 23. 
  • Document your participation with photos or video clips (group photo not required). 
  • All challenge participants will be recognized; the team with the most creative and impactful giving idea will receive special recognition in February. 
  • Participation is 100% voluntary. You are in no way obligated to participate in the challenge.  

We continue to add giving opportunities each year!  If you would like to feature a worthy cause on our list, please submit it to Amber Giacalone at agiacalone@csusm.edu.  Happy Giving!

Giving Opportunities

Show All
  • Animals

    LYFF - Love Your Feral Felines

    LYFF is a 501(c)3 non-profit animal rescue group. LYFF mainly focuses on educating about and managing feral cat populations, fostering adoptable cats, and offering no/low-cost spaying and neutering of pets to north SD county residents. Our very own Amanda Umphrey has been volunteering with them for nearly 4 years! Amanda is happy to answer any questions!

    Check out the LYFF volunteer opportunities

    Frosted Faces Foundation

    Senior Animal Advocates

    • Help socialize senior dogs onsite in Ramona
    • Join the Frosted Fakers Hike on Sundays in Ramona area
    • Foster a senior dog for two weeks on a Frosted Fling

    Last Chance at Life Dog Rescue

    • Donate items from the LCAL Wishlist
    • Walk dogs in Oceanside from 11:30-1:30pm

    Snuggles Project

    • Crochet, knit or quilt blankets for shelter animals

    Foster an animal over the holidays:

  • Donations & Fundraising

    OHR's Angel Tree

    The Office of Human Resources has teamed up with a local afterschool program to bring holiday cheer to elementary students in need. Every child deserves a moment of joy this season. The program we've chosen provides free access to a safe, enriching after-school environment for families facing challenges such as food, housing, and financial insecurity. Let’s come together to be the reason a child smiles this holiday season.

    Stop by the Office of Human Resources, Administrative 4800, and select an ornament. We will match you with a child’s wish list. Gifts should be valued at around $30. Detailed instructions will be provided when you select an ornament.

    If you are not on-site to pick up a child’s ornament, please email hr@csusm.edu and we can provide a profile.

    Brother Benno's

    • Donate lunch goods that Brother Benno's uses during their weekly lunch distributions OR new children's pjs and stocking stuffers for their Children's Christmas giveaway

    Care Packages

    • assemble care packages to hand out as a random act of kindness

    CSUSM Sick & Vacation Time Donation

    • Donate sick and/or vacation time to a CSUSM staff/faculty member who may be in need of a catastrophic leave donation

    Feeding San Diego

    • Donate funds to help provide meals to families and children in San Diego

    Salvation Army Kettle & Bell - Virtual Fundraiser

    • Host an online Red Kettle drive

    Wishlist Giving:

  • Food & Clothing Drives

    Blanket Drive 

    • Help PATH (People Assisting the Homeless) reach their goal of providing fleece blankets for local homeless populations.

    Holiday Basket Drive

    • Host a virtual or contactless drive through donation drive to provide coats, food, and blanket to North County families in need

    North County Food Bank

    • Host a food drive or donate a $5 Hunger Bag at check-out during your next trip to Albertson's or Vons

    SD County Food Bank

    Virtual Food Drive

    • Online shopping to donate via a SD Food Bank-hosted site

    SD County Food Bank

    Food 4 Kids Backpack Virtual Drive

    • Donate food to elementary school children
  • Volunteer Work

    Brother Benno's

    • Pick up grocery donations from local stores, sort through donations, assist with donation distribution

    HandsOn San Diego

    • Find opportunities to sort children's books, arrange donations for military families, make no-sew fleece blanets, or help with a virtual Turkey Trot through this volunteer database

    Happy Mail for Arc of San Diego Clients

    • Write letters or send postcards to adults and children with developmental disabilities

    Meals On Wheels

    • Drop off warm meals to local seniors in need

    Operation Gratitude

    • Write letters or make holiday cards to send to service members serving overseas

    Salvation Army Kettle & Bell

    • Adopt-a-day to ring the Salvation Army Bell and raise money for those in need

    Women's Resource Center Thrift Store

    • Sort donations, help customers, and ring sales at the WRC thrift store

    Beach Cleanups

    • Remove trash and debris to prevent further harm to marine life and coastal ecosystems.

    Write a Letter to an Elder

    • Send homemade cards or letters of encouragement to senior community residents via Serving Seniors