Radio Disney’s nationwide “Festival of Giving” events on December 3 & 4 help kids give back: don't miss the feel-good family event of the year near you!

Family-friendly Radio Disney is having a fantastic event to help kids understand the importance of charitable giving this holiday season with its first-annual "FESTIVAL OF GIVING," and I’d like to encourage all my readers to participate.  On DECEMBER 3 AND 4, Radio Disney stations in over 30 markets are bringing multiple charities together in their local communities to create a convenient way for kids and families to help others.  The festival makes it easy for families to give back with a variety of charitable organizations on-site to receive donations, including Toys for Tots, the Salvation Army, the Humane Society, local food banks, and animal shelters, among others.

Check the listings below to find the "Festival of Giving" event taking place near you this coming weekend.  They are happening across the nation in cities like Philadelphia, Miami, Dallas, Sacramento, Cleveland, and Los Angeles, to name a few.  UPDATE AS OF 11/30: If you are planning on attending the Houston event on December 3, or the New York, Philadelphia, or Chicago events on December 4, please see the list below for important updates.

Whether your kids want to help animals, promote literacy, or feed the needy, they will be able to learn about and donate to the organizations that are meaningful to them.  The charities present vary by location, but this event is a great learning opportunity for kids and offers family fun for all ages with music, interactive entertainment, and prizes.  

What better way to help your kids embrace the true spirit of Christmas and all holiday festivities celebrated this time of year?  Even a small donation is significant.  I can’t think of a better way to feel all warm and fuzzy inside than to help those less fortunate than ourselves.

"Festival of Giving" kicks off Radio Disney’s Project Family initiative, inspiring families to spend time together in an effort to make a lasting, positive change at home, in their community, and the world at large.

Here are the event listings.  On December 3 the events will be hosted at the following locations: 

Dallas, Texas 5:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.

City of Frisco’s Simpson Plaza in Frisco Square with AM 620

Charities: CASA of Collin County, Miracle League of Frisco and Frisco Family Services

Boston, Massachusetts 9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.

Marblehead Christmas Walk with AM 1260

Charities: Marblehead Food Pantry and Making Ends Meet

Atlanta, Georgia 4:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m.

Atlantic Station with AM 590

Charities: Humane Society of Atlanta, Toys for Tots, Children’s Healthcare Network of Atlanta and Atlanta Community Food Bank

Houston, Texas 11:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.

CityCentre with AM 1590

Charities: Yellow Stone Academy, SPCA Houston, Houston Food Bank, Shriners Hospital

Detroit, Michigan 10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.

Westland Shopping Center with AM 910

Charities: Westland Veteran’s Association, Michigan Humane Society, Toys for Tots and Forgotten Harvest

Phoenix, Arizona 11:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.

Outlets at Anthem with AM 1580

Charities: AZ Heroes to Hometowns, Salvation Army and The Al Maag Toy Foundation

Tampa, Florida 11:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.

Tampa’s Curtis Hixson Park with AM 1380

Charities: Toys for Tots and Metropolitan Ministries

Minneapolis, Minnesota 12:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m.

Rosedale Center in Roseville with AM 1440

Charities: Salvation Army, Read to Feed the Mind and Pillsbury United Communities

Miami, Florida 11:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.

Miami Children’s Hospital Palmetto Bay Outpatient Center with AM 990

Charities: Miami Children’s Hospital Foundation

Denver, Colorado 12:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.

The Streets of SouthGlenn with AM 1690

Charities: Salvation Army, Toys for Tots and Boys & Girls Club of Denver, Mi Casa and Ronald McDonald House Denver

Cleveland, Ohio 1:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.

Crocker Park with AM 1260

Charities: Salvation Army, The Up Side of Downs of Greater Cleveland, Achievement Centers for Children, Purrfect Companions Cat Sanctuary, Berea Children’s Home and Family Services, Hunger Network of Greater Cleveland and Family Promise of Greater Cleveland

Orlando, Florida 11:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.

Oviedo Mall with AM 990

Charities: A Gift for Teaching, Christian Help and Oviedo Rotary

Orlando, Florida 2:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.

Winter Garden Village with AM 990

Charities: A Gift for Teaching, SPCA of Central Florida, Matthew’s Hope, Christian Help and Toys for Tots

St. Louis, Missouri 12:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.

Chesterfield Valley with AM 1260

Charities: St. Louis Area Food Bank, Toys for Tots, Salvation Army and Five Acres Animal Shelter

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 1:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.

Century III Mall with AM 1250

Charities: Arthritis Foundation, Salvation Army and Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank

Charlotte, North Carolina 10:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.

Carolina Place Mall with AM 1480

Charities: Humane Society, Salvation Army and Second Harvest Food Bank

Kansas City, Missouri 12:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.

Legends Outlets Kansas City in Kansas City, Kansas with AM 1190

Charities: Hillcrest Transitional Housing, Toys for Tots and Heartland SPCA

Salt Lake City, Utah 10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.

The Shops at Riverwoods with AM 910

Charities: Kids On The Move, No More Homeless Pets in Utah, Utah County Food Bank, Salvation Army, The Christmas Box House, Head Start and The Adoption Exchange

Milwaukee, Wisconsin 12:00 p.m. – 1:30 p.m.

The Shops of Grand Avenue with AM 1640

Charities: Hunger Task Force

San Antonio, Texas 12:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.

Huebner Oaks with AM 1160

Charities: San Antonio Food Bank, Toys for Tots, Animal Defense League and SAMM Ministries

Little Rock, Arkansas 12:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.

The Promenade at Chenal with 99.5 FM

Charities: Reach Out & Read Arkansas, The Miracle League of Arkansas, Arkansas Food Bank, The Salvation Army and Pulaski County Humane Society

Richmond, Virginia 2:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.

West Broad Village with AM 1290

Charities: Big Brothers Big Sisters of Greater Richmond and Central Virginia Food Bank

The "Festival of Giving" events taking place on December 4 will be hosted at the following locations:

New York, New York 2:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.

Queens Center in Elmhurst with AM 1560

Charities: FreeMAT and Families Building Community

Los Angeles, California 1:30 p.m. – 5:30 p.m.

Beeman Park in Studio City with AM 1110

Charities: Pet Orphans, Big Brothers Big Sisters, Bookends, LAPD North Hollywood Division, North Hollywood Interfaith Food Pantry, St. Charles Borromeo Church Food Pantry and Operation Uplift

Chicago, Illinois 1:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.

Gurnee Mills Mall with AM 1300

Charities: PAWS Chicago, Toy Box Connection and the Northern Illinois Food Bank

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 1:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.

The Shops at Liberty Place in The Rotunda with AM 640

Charities: Pet Orphans, Big Brothers Big Sisters, Bookends, LAPD North Hollywood Division, North Hollywood Interfaith Food Pantry, St. Charles Borromeo Church Food Pantry and Operation Uplift

San Francisco, California 2:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.

The Shops at Tanforan in San Bruno with AM 1310

Charities: Parca and The Second Harvest Food Bank

Seattle, Washington 10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.

Marketplace at Factoria with AM 1250

Charities: Food Lifeline, Seattle Humane Society, Treehouse for Kids and Salvation Army

Miami, Florida 12:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.

West Kendall Toyota with AM 990

Charities: Miami Children’s Hospital Foundation

Sacramento, California 1:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.

Fountains at Roseville with AM 1470

Charities: Placer SPCA, News10 Coats for Kids, Placer Food Bank, Peace for Families and Toys for the Troops Kids

Portland, Oregon 12:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.

Cedar Hills Crossing Mall with AM 1640

Charities: Goodwill, Oregon Food Bank, Washington County Animal Shelter and KGW Great Toy Drive

Indianapolis, Indiana 12:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.

Feld Entertainment’s Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey Circus at Conseco Fieldhouse with 98.3 FM

Charities: Toys for Tots and Shepherd Community Center

Milwaukee, Wisconsin 11:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.

The Shops at East Towne Square in Mequon with AM 1640

Charities: Toms and Toys for Tots

Albany, New York 1:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.

Clifton Park Center with AM 1460

Charities: Toys for Tots, Saratoga County Animal Shelter Annex, Regional Food Bank of Northeastern New York

I hope to see you there!