🎄 6,000 Gifts, 300 Smiles: The Magic of the 2026 AZ Giving Trees!
By Katie Maguire | January 4th, 2026
If you felt a little extra warmth in the Arizona air this past December, it wasn't just the desert sun—it was the incredible spirit of our community!
The Branching Out 2026 AZ Giving Trees Holiday Gift Drive has officially wrapped up, and we are still pinching ourselves. This year didn’t just meet our expectations; it blew them right off the branches. Together, we turned the holiday season into a massive celebration of belonging for local youth in foster care.
🏢 Our Forest of Partners
We started with a vision, but our 38+ Community Partners turned it into a reality. From local gyms and bustling offices to neighborhood coffee shops, "Giving Trees" popped up all over the valley.
Each tree was adorned with personalized tags, each representing a specific child or teen navigating the foster care system. These weren't just generic wishlists; they were dreams, hobbies, and favorite colors. And when the call went out, you answered.
✨ By The Numbers (The Good Kind!)
Watching the gifts pour into our collection centers was like watching Santa’s workshop go into overdrive. Because of your generosity:
38+ Locations hosted trees across the community.
Over 6,000 Gifts were hand-picked and delivered.
300+ Foster Youth & Teens received a holiday tailored specifically to them.
From the hottest new sneakers for a teenager to that one specific building set a five-year-old had been dreaming about, every single tag was fulfilled with love.
🎁 More Than Just a Box
For a child in foster care, receiving a gift that was picked out just for them is a powerful reminder that they are seen, known, and valued by their community. Whether you took one tag or ten, you didn't just give a toy or a gadget—you gave a moment of pure, uninterrupted childhood joy.
To our partners who gave up floor space, our volunteers who organized the mountains of boxes, and every community member who checked a tag: Thank you. You are the reason 300+ kids woke up to magic this year.
"Seeing the community come together like this reminds our kids that they aren't just 'in the system', they are part of a larger family that stretches across the whole state."
🗓️ Looking Ahead
We’re already dreaming of how to make 2027 even bigger. If you missed out this year or want to get your business involved in our next drive, it’s never too early to reach out!
