The Little Match Girl Foundation Ltd. is seeking donations of much-needed school supplies for students at the Gen. George A. McCall Elementary School in Philadelphia.

For its second annual Stock Up for School drive, the foundation is partnering with The McCall School through the support of law firm Goldberg Segalla LLP, where volunteer attorneys and staff members have mobilized to collect essential items, establish partnerships with other companies in the Philadelphia community, and provide a convenient downtown drop-off point for anyone who wishes to contribute donations.

Goldberg Segalla partners Jonathan S. Ziss and Seth L. Laver are helping to coordinate the drive in Philadelphia.

“The energy, diversity, and spirit of the students at The McCall School represent everything we love about Philadelphia,” said Mr. Laver. “We are thrilled to be able to provide school supplies for these children and look forward to ensuring their upcoming school year is as productive and enjoyable as possible.”

Mr. Ziss added, “Last year, the generosity of the Philadelphia community was extraordinary and we are hoping we can work together with local companies, community members, and organizations to make this year’s drive even bigger. Each ounce of effort makes an enormous difference in the lives of these kids.”

According to The McCall School, the following items are most needed: pencils, folders, composition notebooks, pencil boxes, tissues, glue sticks, crayons, backpacks, and erasers. Specific supply needs by grade and class are available at www.MeetingMcCall.com.

Donations are being accepted now through September 21 at the Philadelphia office of Goldberg Segalla, located at 1700 Market Street, Suite 1418. The office may be reached by phone at (267) 519-6877, attention Seth L. Laver.

The Little Match Girl Foundation was founded by Goldberg Segalla partner Brian R. Biggie, who practices in the firm’s Buffalo, New York office. The 2015 Stock Up for School event is the organization’s second outreach event in Philadelphia.

“The McCall School has a vision to create a community of future-ready life-long learners who will lead, serve, and achieve in their communities. We couldn’t be more proud to help them achieve this mission,” Mr. Biggie said.

About The Little Match Girl Foundation

The Little Match Girl Foundation Ltd. is a 501 (c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to the principle that every child deserves the opportunity to experience the joy, wonder, and optimism of youth that many of us take for granted. Inspired by the classic Hans Christian Andersen short story of the same name, the Little Match Girl Foundation focuses on helping those children most in need by collecting and providing them with school supplies, essential seasonal items, holiday gifts, and other donations in collaboration with their schools and other community organizations.

Founded in May 2014 in Buffalo, New York, the organization’s roots trace back to an annual holiday gift-giving program begun there in 2005. It has grown to encompass efforts in Philadelphia, Hartford, and other cities, with the goal of positively impacting the lives of as many children as possible in an ever-expanding network of community partnerships.

The Little Match Girl Foundation was recently named a “Commitment to Education” Award Winner by the Niagara Frontier Industry Education Council. NFIEC honored this year’s recipients at its annual awards breakfast in Buffalo on Wednesday, May 5.

NFIEC acknowledged Little Match Girl’s dedication to making a difference in the lives of children in the Western New York community and its holiday gift-giving drive, Buffalo Christmas Wishes. In 2014, the organization, with the support of law firm Goldberg Segalla LLP, helped families and children in need by collecting, wrapping, and delivering donated gifts that matched personal wish lists for children. Little Match Girl and Buffalo Christmas Wishes provided nearly 1,000 gifts to more than 300 K-5 students at Enterprise Charter School and Our Lady of Hope Home School at St. Luke’s Mission of Mercy.

Little Match Girl was one of 11 NFIEC winners honored this year and was nominated for the award by Melissa Laun, Student Support Services Director at Enterprise Charter School.

About The Little Match Girl Foundation
The Little Match Girl Foundation Ltd. is a nonprofit organization dedicated to the principle that every child deserves the opportunity to experience the joy, wonder, and optimism of youth that many of us take for granted. Inspired by the classic Hans Christian Andersen short story of the same name, the Little Match Girl Foundation focuses on helping those children most in need by collecting and providing them with school supplies, essential seasonal items, holiday gifts, and other donations in collaboration with their schools and other community organizations.

Founded in May 2014 in Buffalo, New York, the organization’s roots trace back to an annual holiday gift-giving program begun there in 2005. It has grown to encompass efforts in Philadelphia, Chicago, and other cities, with the goal of positively impacting the lives of as many children as possible in an ever-expanding network of community partnerships. The Little Match Girl Foundation’s 501(c)(3) nonprofit status is currently pending.

Buffalo Christmas Wishes is back — and this year, the holiday gift-giving drive expects to be bigger than ever as it gears up to benefit students at Enterprise Charter School and Our Lady of Hope Home School at St. Luke’s Mission of Mercy. A fundraiser to help kick off the 2014 drive will take place November 12 at Resurgence Brewing Company.

Buffalo Christmas Wishes helps provide gifts to families and children in need in our community by collecting, wrapping, and delivering to them donated gifts that match their personal wish lists. The popular program has been rekindled by The Little Match Girl Foundation Ltd., the nonprofit formed earlier this year by Buffalo attorney Brian R. Biggie. Mr. Biggie, a partner in the law firm Goldberg Segalla LLP, originally founded the Buffalo Christmas Wishes drive in 2005 and organized it each year through 2010.

In early November, students at Enterprise Charter School and Our Lady of Hope Home School will be listed along with their top-three gift wishes for the 2014 holiday season. Once the list is available, participants can pick a student to “adopt.” The organization encourages participants to spend at least $25 on their student. For those who need additional ideas for gifts, click here for a list of recommended books by grade level, and help support the schools’ emphasis on increasing reading proficiency.

Unwrapped gifts will be accepted through December 15 by the Little Match Girl Foundation at the offices of Goldberg Segalla, located at 665 Main Street, Suite 400, Buffalo, NY 14203. Donations of wrapping paper, tape, and bows also are welcome. Volunteers from the Little Match Girl Foundation and Goldberg Segalla will then wrap the gifts and ensure their delivery to the students in time for Christmas.

The foundation is also collecting donations of general supplies for St. Luke’s Mission of Mercy. Please see the Buffalo Christmas Wishes page for a list of the most-needed items.

“All of us at the Little Match Girl Foundation and Goldberg Segalla are thrilled for the chance to help some of Buffalo’s neediest children experience the joys of the holiday season that many of us take for granted,” Mr. Biggie said. “We are also very excited for the kickoff event at Resurgence, which promises to be a fun way for people to get together and make a difference in kids’ lives. Western New York is such a generous community — we know from past experience with Buffalo Christmas Wishes that many will step up to help give these deserving children a holiday to remember.” 

Buffalo Christmas Wishes Kickoff:
Wednesday, November 12, 2014
6–8 p.m.
Resurgence Brewing Company
1250 Niagara Street, Buffalo

$30 tax-deductible donation includes two drink tickets, a tour of the facility, and a special tasting. Click here to RSVP by November 10. Tickets will also be sold at the door.

Laptops will be available for participants to pick a student in the Buffalo Christmas Wishes program. All proceeds collected at this event will support the 2014 Buffalo Christmas Wishes campaign.

About The Little Match Girl Foundation
The Little Match Girl Foundation Ltd. is a nonprofit organization dedicated to the principle that every child deserves the opportunity to experience the joy, wonder, and optimism of youth that many of us take for granted. Inspired by the classic Hans Christian Andersen short story of the same name, the Little Match Girl Foundation focuses on helping those children most in need by collecting and providing them with school supplies, essential seasonal items, holiday gifts, and other donations in collaboration with their schools and other community organizations.

Founded in May 2014 in Buffalo, New York, the organization’s roots trace back to an annual holiday gift-giving program begun there in 2005. It has grown to encompass efforts in Philadelphia, Chicago, and other cities, with the goal of positively impacting the lives of as many children as possible in an ever-expanding network of community partnerships. The Little Match Girl Foundation’s 501(c)(3) nonprofit status is currently pending.

For more information, please contact:
Brian R. Biggie, Founder and President
The Little Match Girl Foundation Ltd.\
c/o Goldberg Segalla
665 Main Street, Suite 400
Buffalo, New York 14203
bbiggie@goldbergsegalla.com
(716) 566-5415

Media Contact:
Geri Rosman
908-334-0663
gerirosmanpr@gmail.com

The Little Match Girl Foundation Ltd. is seeking donations of much-needed school supplies for elementary students at the Francis Scott Key School in Philadelphia.

For its first annual Stock Up for School drive, the foundation is partnering with the Francis Scott Key School through the support of law firm Goldberg Segalla LLP, where volunteer attorneys and staff members have mobilized to collect essential items, establish partnerships with other companies in the Philadelphia community, and provide a convenient downtown drop-off point for anyone who wishes to contribute donations.

Goldberg Segalla partners Jonathan S. Ziss and Seth L. Laver are helping to coordinate the drive in Philadelphia for the Francis Scott Key School.

“The interest we’ve already seen from individuals and corporations has been both remarkable and inspirational,” said Mr. Ziss. “We’re confident many more will step up to help these kids when they really need it. We also encourage companies and organizations to rally their people for coordinated collections of items to donate. It can be an excellent team-building exercise for a great cause.”

Mr. Laver added, “We will continue working to spread the word in an effort to get even more people and corporate sponsors involved. We know how charitable the Philadelphia community is, and we look forward to that generosity setting up the students at Francis Scott Key Elementary for a more enjoyable and more productive school year.”

According to the Francis Scott Key School, the following items are most needed: backpacks, pencils, spiral notebooks, loose-leaf notebook paper, pencil boxes, tissues, glue sticks, crayons, copy paper, and erasers.

Donations are being accepted now through Sept. 15 at the Philadelphia office of Goldberg Segalla, located at 1700 Market Street, Suite 1418. The office may be reached by phone at (267) 519-6877, attention Seth L. Laver.

The Little Match Girl Foundation was founded by Goldberg Segalla partner Brian R. Biggie, who practices in the firm’s Buffalo, New York office. The 2014 Stock Up for School event is the organization’s first outreach event in Philadelphia.

“We are very proud to work with the wonderful administrators and students at the Francis Scott Key School, and we look forward to continuing our efforts here in the strong community of Philadelphia,” Mr. Biggie said. “We expect this will be the first of many successful programs here.”