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The 29th Annual Bob Telmosse' Christmas Giveaway is scheduled for December 21, 2011 at the Freedom Financial Services Expo Center at 3650 N. Nevada.

Until then, several local businesses are supporting the organization with fundraising events:

* Back East Bar & Grill,9475 Briar Village Point, is selling $1.00 and $10.00 certificates throughout the month of November with all the proceeds going to the Christmas Giveaway. Then, on November 28, 2011, Back East Bar & Grill will be hosting a huge fundraiser, with half of the proceeds from all drink specials going to the Christmas Giveaway. There will also be a silent auction with fabulous items like a Michael Garman sculpture, gift certificates from Salon and Day Spa and 180 Image and much more to bid on!

* Sunflower Market, 1730 Dublin Blvd., is hosting a fundraiser on Nov. 19 from 11 am to 1 pm. Volunteers will be cooking and serving hot dogs and hamburgers, with half of all the proceeds going to the Christmas Giveaway. The will also be collecting cash and food donations. Sunflower Market will put needed items at the end of the aisles, to make it easy for shoppers to donate.

About the Bob Telmosse Christmas Giveaway:

In 1984 Bob Telmossé founded the SafeChild Project, a non-profit foundation. The organization provided video tape of infants and children for database identification and donated money for worthwhile community projects. The foundation became the underwriter for the Bob Telmossé Christmas Giveaway for the needy in the community. In 1983, the event began as a hoax. Someone ran an ad in the Gazette Telegraph saying Bob's business was giving away free food. When people come to his business, Bob explained the mistake and had them come back the next day and provided them with food from his own resources.

The event grew the next year and the next and the next. When it grew into the thousands, SafeChild took over. The Giveaway continued for 22 years, helping thousands of less fortunate have food, clothing, gifts and toys for Christmas. Bob directed the event until 2003 when his health prevented him from doing so. After 2003 the Giveaway has continued through the efforts of many people in the community and eventually the Bob Telmossé Foundation.