Support Recess Anytime

We talk about shopping small and supporting neighborhood businesses throughout the year, but you may be surprised to find out all of the little ways you can help your favorite organizations anytime.

Whether you’re shopping for gifts, ordering cards or looking at donating to support worthy causes, here are some ways to contribute to the work Recess is doing in the community.

Donate

PayPal giving fund

With PayPal Giving Fund, you can support Recess on additional platforms, including PayPal, eBay, GoFundMe, Humble Bundle, Airbnb, Nextdoor, ShoppingGives, and Zakatify. PayPal Giving Fund doesn’t charge charities or donors any fees for their services.

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Help Recess when you make a purchase

We’ve got you covered for gifts any time of year! Using over 14 years of experience with young children, we will put together a toy bundle for your child, or a child in need. You can buy a gift pack for a little one in your family, and/or gift one. We will make sure that it is delivered within San Francisco. https://recesscollective.getgalore.com/products

Minted

Spread some cheer during this tough year. Not only does Minted offer great holiday cards, but they also make tote bags, coloring books, and art.

Use the Code FUNDRAISERECESS at checkout and save 20% off your purchase! Minted.com

Amazon smile

When you shop on Amazon, start from this link, and they’ll donate .5% back to Recess. https://smile.amazon.com/ch/82-4820054

We are on the move... What would you like to see?

Our brick & mortar space closed. It was surreal and sad to dismantle the space we poured everything into just 2 years ago…but the pandemic realities have made it necessary.

Recess is still, however, committed to continuing to fulfill our mission to:

• create opportunities for children to develop & play.

• give parents and caregivers the support and community needed to navigate raising children.

But the way we fulfill our mission, the delivery system of those offerings, needs to change due to COVID.

Survey

As we shift our operations to a new outdoor mobile format, we would love and appreciate your input.

Please take 5 minutes to let us know: What you need, what you want and where you are!

We will be using this information to mold the next iteration of Recess into an innovative community hub that meets families where they’re at in a way that is safe and nurturing. If you have any questions or specific ideas- feel free to reach out at any time!

‘Tis the Season Silent Auction

Our annual fundraiser is a bit late this year due to… everything. It has morphed from our usual in person extravaganza to an online silent auction. And although we can’t be together, we are thrilled to share the details of the event:

WHO:  Recess + Community

WHAT: Tis the Season Silent auction.  We’re raising money to sustain Recess Collective, a nonprofit space designed to support families with young children.  

WHEN:  We will be holding the silent auction 12/15 - 12/20. 

WHY:  

• We’re all at home, art provides inspiration

• Art is a great gift for friends and family you won’t be seeing this year due to the pandemic

• Art and creativity are essential to staying healthy and sane

HOW:  Once the auction begins, Log into  32auctions.com/recesscollective.  Bid. Bidding will start on Dec 15.  AND will end at 7pm on 12/20.  

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The days, weeks and months of closure are beginning to bring uncertainty around how / when we can gather again. And how safe gathering, play, and community will look going forward.

We have an idea for a mobile concept. A Recess on wheels. But to make it a reality, we need your help.

Mark your calendar! Our Silent Auction will be Dec 15- Dec 20. You’ll find some incredible items to bid on. Items that will make great gifts and some that are too good to not buy for yourself.

We are so grateful to all of those who have donated items. And we can’t wait to launch this event!

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Estate Planning for New Parents

Taking care of our children is one of the most satisfying and rewarding things we will ever do, and it is hard to imagine a world where they are growing up without us, or where our spouse is suddenly a single parent with insufficient resources.

You might be surprised to learn that you already have an estate plan – the California default estate plan. Your minor children will be placed where it is “necessary and convenient” until a formal guardianship proceeding is held. Your assets will be liquidated through probate and held in trust for your minor children, who will receive cash when they are 18 years old.  If you are suddenly unable to care for yourself or take care of your own financial affairs, your family, including your spouse, may have to go to court to get permission to make financial and health care decisions for you.

With a personalized estate plan that includes a revocable or “living” trust, you decide when your children receive their inheritance.  You can protect them from receiving money when it might do more harm than good (divorce, litigation, addiction). A trust can also keep your family out of probate court – where everything (your assets, your debts, your heirs) is made public and the process is time consuming and expensive.

With a personalized guardianship nomination designation, you can provide a vision for your children’s future by providing the guardians with instructions on where you would like your children to live, what type of education is important to you, and who you want to have in, and out, of your children’s lives. You can even specify a spiritual advisor or ask the guardians to take your children to see the Giants play at least once a year.

You don't need to be "ready" to do an estate plan. You don't need to have your ducks in a row or your finances in order. You don't even need "an estate".

You only need to be willing to face the task head on and start. I can help you figure out the rest.  I hope you will attend my workshop at Recess.

I provide highly personalized estate planning services to families with young children. In addition to my workshop on estate planning fundamentals and guardianship nomination for families, I will have information on low cost estate planning options, tips on choosing the right estate planning attorney for your family, and I will bring my notary materials in case anyone would like to have statutory durable powers of attorney or advance health care directives notarized. Email me if you would like the forms – patricia@defontelaw.com

More information at: www.defontelaw.com