Tiny Hands Foundation Aims to Distribute 1000 Holiday Food Baskets to Hungry Florida Children

Led by local businessman Rod Khleif, 12th Annual Tiny Hands Foundation Basket Brigade seeks donations and volunteers

SARASOTA, Fla., Dec. 5, 2013 /PRNewswire/ — Local businessman and philanthropist Rod Khleif has announced his goal to distribute 1000 food baskets this holiday season despite economic setbacks suffered by his business and foundation. The annual event will continue in the same tradition that has benefitted thousands of families throughout greater Sarasota and Bradenton during the past eleven years. Khleif is seeking donations and volunteers to assist his foundation in achieving this year's goal.

Rod Khleif and volunteers will assemble and deliver giant baskets of turkeys, treats and toys in this widespread effort to extend goodwill toward the city's less-fortunate children and their families. In previous years, the event has been entirely funded by Khleif who has fed over 10,000 children since his foundation was formed in 2000. This year Khleif will personally fund 200 baskets but requires assistance in funding 800 additional baskets to feed the families he's identified.

The annual Basket Brigade began on Thanksgiving in 2001 when Khleif and his brother decided to forgo an afternoon of television-football programming to distribute 5 food baskets they had assembled privately. In one delivery experience, the recipient cried out in an emotional response of gratitude.  This experience inspired Khleif to form the Tiny Hands Foundation through which Khleif personally funds the Basket Brigade.

This year, his foundation will attempt to deliver 1000 individually-assembled food baskets to unsuspecting recipients; primarily single mothers with one or more children. In his efforts to make the experience especially meaningful, Khleif instructs the volunteers to deliver the food baskets along with the personal message: "This is from someone who loves you.

"My ultimate goal is that the single act of kindness we provide will have an amazing ripple effect and touch thousands of lives in the future," says Khleif. "If we make a difference in one person's life and inspire a better future for him or her, it will make this all worthwhile."

This year's event is made possible with the support of The Boys and Girls Club of Sarasota. If you can make a donation or volunteer your time and services, please contact event coordinator Kimberley Reibel by phone at 941-343-8023, by email or by visiting the foundation's website at http://www.TinyHandsFoundation.org.  All donations are tax-deductible.

Media Contact: Kimberley Reibel
Tiny Hands Foundation
Direct Phone:  941-343-8023
Email
http://tinyhandsfoundation.org