This Year’s ‘Giving Joy’ Theme Reflects Transformational Gifts From the Foundation – Giving Back More Than $2 Million in Resources and Support to Oakland Students and Their Schools this Holiday Season
Oakland, CA (December 9, 2024) — Today, Stephen and Ayesha Curry’s Eat. Learn. Play. announced the conclusion of the 12th annual Christmas with the Currys, where the Oakland-based foundation provided more than $2 Million in resources and support to students and families this holiday season. Throughout December, Oakland Unified School District (OUSD) students and families experienced the joy of reading through festive holiday events and surprises, pop-up book fairs, book distributions, and gifts from Eat. Learn. Play.’s partners, highlighted by a generous $200,000 gift from Safeway Foundation for 1,000 Oakland families in need to receive Safeway gift cards this holiday season. For the fifth year in a row, Eat. Learn. Play. was able to provide a holiday gift to all 18,000 elementary school students in Oakland.
“Each year, our creative and talented community of volunteers and supporters come together to bring the magic of the holiday season to life for more than 18,000 elementary school students in the Oakland Unified School District,” said Stephen and Ayesha Curry. “Our theme this year is ‘Giving Joy’ and we have seen firsthand the joy students have through age-appropriate and diverse books that spark their imaginations and create a curiosity for new subjects. Through the hard work of our team and our amazing partners, we’re excited to revitalize libraries throughout the new year and beyond to give kids a destination to read, learn and dream.”
Under the uplifting theme of ‘Giving Joy,’ Eat. Learn. Play. is spreading the joy of reading and fostering vibrant communities in Oakland through their commitment to reimagining libraries, transforming schoolyards and creating unforgettable experiences for students. This year’s Christmas with the Currys builds upon the foundation’s recent $25 Million commitment to advance the literacy movement in Oakland through one-on-one, professional tutoring and other literacy initiatives.
“Christmas with the Currys is a wonderful annual celebration and it’s so much more. It’s a testament to the transformative power of community and partnership,” said OUSD Superintendent Dr. Kyla Johnson-Trammell. “The festivities at Madison Park Academy brought incredible joy and opportunities to our students, and the outreach to all 18,000 elementary school children across OUSD underscores the depth of the Currys’ and Eat. Learn. Play.’s commitment to Oakland. From sparking a love of reading through book distributions to revitalizing school libraries that will inspire learning for years to come, these initiatives exemplify their dedication to helping our students become the thoughtful leaders that our world needs. On behalf of Oakland Unified School District, I extend my heartfelt thanks to the Currys and Eat. Learn. Play. for their unwavering support of our schools and students.”
During Christmas with the Currys, Eat. Learn. Play. announced their newest initiative to renovate elementary school libraries throughout Oakland Unified School District in 2025 and beyond. Libraries will be refreshed with books that kids love to read, new library furniture and grants that provide additional support in spaces they are excited to be in. This latest announcement builds on Eat. Learn. Play.’s commitment to transform the school experience for a generation of Oakland students.
The festivities started with a special holiday event at Madison Park Academy on December 4th, where Stephen and Ayesha surprised over 200 elementary school students as they enjoyed activities such as an on-site book fair filled with a curated selection of age-appropriate and diverse books, a schoolyard design session guided by artists from Pixar, a holiday themed petting zoo, fun field day games and more. Bringing holiday cheer through gift giving, each student was surprised with an Under Armour backpack filled with school supplies and other gifts from Rakuten and the Golden State Warriors.
The celebrations didn’t stop there, as this year’s Christmas with the Currys aimed to spark all Oakland elementary students’ imaginations, fuel their creativity and help them grow through the power of reading and storytelling. Through pop-up book fairs and book gift boxes delivered directly to their schools, over 100,000 brand-new books will bring the joy of reading to all 18,000 elementary students across OUSD this Christmas with the Currys. Additionally, Eat. Learn. Play. furthered their local support by donating $500,000 to the Alameda County Community Food Bank in order to deliver 1 million meals to the Oakland community. Thanks to the Safeway Foundation’s generous $200,000 gift, approximately 1,000 Oakland families in need will receive support through Safeway gift cards this holiday season.
“We’re thrilled to be part of this collaborative effort led by Eat. Learn. Play. bringing together the community to make a meaningful difference in the lives of Oakland students and their families this holiday season,” said Karl Schroeder, Division President of Safeway Northern California. “It’s a privilege to be able to help spread joy and make the holidays brighter. Our team of associates are grateful for the opportunity to take part in this special event and give back to the neighborhoods we serve.”
Additionally, over 300 Oakland students were surprised with a trip to Orpheum Theatre in San Francisco for a production of Hamilton hosted by Stephen, Ayesha and Eat. Learn. Play. Students came to experience the magic of Hamilton from community partners East Oakland Youth Development Center (EOYDC), Black Cultural Zone and Oakland Athletic League, as well as from OUSD schools Montera Middle School, McClymonds High School and Madison Park Academy, the latter of which just received a new gym, Curry Court 013 in partnership with Curry Brand, to enhance their educational experience and physical growth.
Christmas with the Currys wouldn’t have been possible without Eat. Learn. Play.’s village of corporate and community partners including Kaiser Permanente, Workday, Joie, Lineage, Nuna, Under Armour, the Safeway Foundation, Chase, DGDG Does Good, PG&E Corporation Foundation, Rakuten, Ripple, Back to the Roots, The Bay Golf Club, The Brady Hunter Foundation, Champion Charities, Ghirardelli Chocolate, Nirvana Super, GoGo squeeZ, Golden State Warriors, Literati, MasterClass, Pixar, PLEZi and more.
About Eat. Learn. Play.
Eat. Learn. Play. Foundation is an organization dedicated to unleashing the potential of every child, paving the way for amazing kids and opening doors to bright futures. Founded by Stephen and Ayesha Curry in 2019, Eat. Learn. Play. launched with a focus on improving the lives of kids and families in Oakland, the Bay Area and across the country. Rooted in three of the most vital pillars for a healthy childhood—nutrition, education and physical activity—Eat. Learn. Play. is working to ensure that every child in Oakland has access to the nutritious food they need to be healthy and thrive; resources to learn and love to read; and safe places and equitable opportunities to play. Follow Eat. Learn. Play. on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn.
