
DATE: Sunday, November 2, 1997              TAG: 9711030328

SECTION: LOCAL                   PAGE: B1   EDITION: FINAL 

SOURCE: BY KENNAN NEWBOLD, STAFF WRITER 

                                            LENGTH:   58 lines

JOY FUND WORKS TO PUT THE HAPPY IN HOLIDAYS COORDINATORS RAISE GOAL THIS YEAR TO HELP MORE CHILDREN.

Though it's a little too early for plastic Santas and ``Jingle Bells,'' it's not too early to begin thinking about Christmas.

Coordinators of the Joy Fund have had Christmas on their minds for months.

The organization already has begun raising money to ensure that thousands of underprivileged children in Hampton Roads have a merrier Christmas.

Fund coordinators estimate that more children than ever will come to them for help this year.

Bert Cake, Joy Fund director, said this year's goal is to raise $350,000 - $25,000 more than last year - to buy cash coupons for about 30,000 children.

``We don't ever turn any children away,'' Cake said.

Each year, Joy Fund recipients are selected from a list of underprivileged children compiled by local clergy, school principals and welfare agencies. Before the holidays, the Joy Fund mails cash coupons redeemable for clothing or toys to the children's parents or guardians.

Cake said the coupons can be used to buy exactly what the child wants for Christmas.

``Parents know best what their children want,'' Cake said. ``And the children never have to know where the present came from, so it's just like a gift from Santa.''

Several events have been organized to raise money for the Joy Fund, including a charity football game, car show, dance, golf tournament and New Year's Eve festival.

Since 1934, the Joy Fund has helped more than a million children. All donations go directly to gifts for needy families.

Contributions may be sent to The Joy Fund, c/o The Virginian-Pilot, 150 W. Brambleton Ave., Norfolk, Va. 23510. A daily list of donors will be published, beginning today. ILLUSTRATION: Graphic

DONORS

TOTAL $0.00

BUSINESS

Anonymous $2.48 Aufenger Studio $100 Bangel, Bangel and Bangel,

L.L.P. $300 In memory of ``Beau-Beau'' $200 Lowery D. Finley and Co.

- Insurance $250 Lyon Shipyard Inc. $200 Shaw Paint and Wall Paper

Co. Inc. $100 Tidewater Mack Incorporated $25 Virginia Glass House

LTD. $100 Virginia Investment Counselors Inc. $150 Virginian-Pilot

Fall Golf Tournament $100

INDIVIDUALS

Carolyn and Herbert Bangel $200 Gilbert, Carl D. and Helene F.

$100 Thistle Foundation $1,000 Willard J. Moody Sr. $100