JW House staff was surprised Monday morning with a huge 93” teddy bear and a big check for $5,000 to support their efforts in providing a warm, comfortable home away from home for families facing medical crises.
“Thank you Lexus Stevens Creek for choosing JW House as the recipient of the Lexus Cares grant! Your generosity will help to keep more than 100 families experiencing medical crises together during the holidays and beyond,” says JW's mother and JW House board member Anne Marie Knapen. “JW House will provide many more hot meals, hot showers, and hugs because of YOU!”
Lexus of Stevens Creek General Manager and V.P. Jared Miller and Community Relations Manager Jessica Keener presented the award to Anne Marie Knapen and Family Service Director April Bignell as part of the dealership’s special $5,000 Giveaway. JW House was one of 15 local non-profits that participated in the promotion. This is the first year that Lexus of Stevens Creek offered this giveaway to non-profits serving children and youth in Santa Clara County.
“We wanted to come up with a fun way to not only award a non-profit for their efforts in our community, but also spread the word about many non-profits that are truly make a difference in the lives of many,” says Keener.
Lexus corporate philanthropy believes that children have the potential, and the desire, to make the world a better place. In an effort to encourage children to pursue their dreams, Lexus has pledged to support organizations that build, shape and improve children's lives. Lexus of Stevens Creek shares that same commitment.
In September, Lexus of Stevens Creek announced the $5,000 funding opportunity in which the winner will be awarded a $2,500 check from Lexus of Stevens Creek and a second $2,500 check from the Lexus Pursuit of Potential Matching Funds Program.
Local non-profits were invited to participate in the giveaway and were asked to submit a 2-minute video sharing a story of a child or family they have helped and how the funds will help their program. For 3 weeks, the community was able to vote for their favorite video at www.lexusstevenscreek.com/Calling-Non-Profits, and the top 3 non-profits with the most votes – Okizu, PARTI Program and JW House - moved on to the final interview phase.
The non-profit groups that participated in the giveaway were Alisa Ann Ruch Burn Foundation, ALS Association Golden West Chapter, Amigos de las Américas, Angels on Stage, Breakthrough Silicon Valley, Far West Wheelchair Athletic Association, Freedom House, JW House, Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, Okizu, PARTI Program, Sacred Heart Community Service, Triton Museum of Art, United Way Silicon Valley and Unity Care.
“It wasn’t an easy decision for us as each non-profit is doing such incredible work,” says Keener. “JW House is providing wonderful year-round services and support to families undergoing such difficult times in their lives, and we are excited to partner and support the organization.”
JW House began as the idea of Jan-Willem (JW) Knapen, a boy who in the midst of battling cancer, wanted to do something to help other children and families facing similar situations. To learn more about the organization, please visit jwhouse.org.
ABOUT LEXUS OF STEVENS CREEK CARES
Since 2010, Lexus of Stevens Creek has been partnering with local non-profit organizations in an effort to help others. From hosting donation drives to offering scholarships to student athletes to opening their doors to charities, Lexus of Stevens Creek is always looking for ways to give back and help make a differenc
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