Angels continue powerhouse of giving to community causes

Fallbrook is fortunate to have numerous non-profit organizations that raise funds to support worthy causes in the community, but the powerhouse of giving that the Angel Society of Fallbrook continues, month after month, is at the top.

The group generally makes charitable distributions every two months and the sum total is staggering.

For the months of December of January alone, 12 community organizations benefited from these ladies' efforts to the tune of $29,500.

The Angels' largest gift for this two-month period went to the Fallbrook Music Society, in the form of a $10,000 grant to continue its music education program in local schools.

"In addition to its [customary] concert series, the Society introduces classical music to elementary school students by presenting several school assemblies each year as part of its youth education and outreach program," said Angel Society representative Jennifer Anderson.

The Angel Society also awarded $2,500 each to the Bonsall School PTA, Fallbrook Village Association, Friends of the Fallbrook Library, FUHS Marching Band, and the Fallbrook Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) Post 1924.

"Bonsall School’s PTA will use the funds to help the school’s library continue operations and also to purchase one new book per student," said Anderson.

"The Fallbrook Village Association will use the funds to finance various painting, repair, landscaping, and other improvement projects in the downtown area as part of its Main Street Façade and Streetscape Matching Funds Project," said Anderson.

"Friends of the Fallbrook Library will apply the funds toward its arts, music and other creative programs," noted Anderson. "The funds will also help support a program for first graders that introduces the students to the library by offering each child a book, library card, and tour of the library. Funds will also go towards a program to help support grandparents who are raising their grandchildren."

The FUHS Marching Band, Anderson said, will use the funds to help provide financial support to needy students.

"The VFW will use the monies to help replace an outdated

high-speed copier, which is essential for the group’s newsletters, flyers, menus, and other needs," said Anderson.

The Angel Society provided MiraCosta College with $2,000 so that two scholarships could be offered to Fallbrook area residents currently attending the college.

"Palomar Counseling received $1,500 to provide critically needed counseling to Fallbrook area youth and their families," said Anderson. "They also have many other programs to assist the needy in this community."

Anderson said three organizations were awarded $1,000 each: the Fallbrook Union High School Parent Teacher Student Association (FUHS PTSA), TERI Inc., and Potter Band and Choir.

"The FUHS PTSA funds will help support a Student Assistance Fund to help needy students purchase required items such as physical education uniforms and graduation caps and gowns," explained Anderson. "Some of the monies will also help defray the costs of attending senior prom."

TERI, a program that was started in 1980 to help children and adults with autism and other developmental disabilities, will use the funds to help build the next phase of its Campus of Life project.

"The Potter Band and Choir will use the monies to expand and enhance its program for middle school students," said Anderson.

KOPA, an award-winning literary magazine at Fallbrook High School, received $500 in support from the Angel Society in this funding cycle.

Members of the Angel Society raise the philanthropic funds they disperse to community causes through the operation of the Angel Shop, a thrift store located at 1002 S. Main Ave. in Fallbrook. Donations are welcome during regular business hours from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday through Saturday. For more information, visit www.theangelsociety.org.