Nonprofit hosts holiday egg hunt

Kiesha Wright of the Kiesha Wright Children’s Foundation prepares Easter baskets at her Family Outlet thrift store in San Leandro. Wright is planning to give away up to 100 Easter dresses and clothing for needy little girls and boys this Saturday at the San Leandro Marina

By TASHA BARTHOLOMEW | Bay Area News Group

PUBLISHED: April 14, 2006 at 10:11 am | UPDATED: August 17, 2016 at 7:00 am

https://www.eastbaytimes.com/2006/04/14/nonprofit-hosts-holiday-egg-hunt/

Tina Turner Kiesha Wright Impersonator Giving Back

TINA TURNER TRIBUTE POSE WITH HELPING KIDS

SAN LEANDRO — Kiesha Wright is one busy lady.

Within a two-hour time span Thursday afternoon, Wright consistently answered telephone calls, gathered children’s clothing and prepared Easter baskets at her Family Outlet thrift store on Doolittle Drive.

Although her day was getting a bit hectic, she knows that by Saturday, all her hard work will be worth it.

Through her nonprofit organization, the Kiesha Wright Children’s Foundation, Wright will host the Easter Egg Hunt & Children’s Clothing Giveaway from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Mallard Picnic Area of the San Leandro Marina.

Radio station KISS 98.1 FM, the Alameda County Fire Department and Oakland A’s mascot Stomper the Elephant all will be represented at the day’s event.

Wright will be giving away up to 100 brand-new Easter dresses, casual wear and baskets to needy little girls and boys — ages 1 to 5 — as well as to young Hurricane Katrina survivors living in the Bay Area.

Oakland-based Catholic Charities of the East Bay has been working with Wright to identify Katrina families. Wright, who is a native of New Orleans, felt it was important to extend her support to those families, too.

With clothing and food donations from aSouthern California warehouse manufacturer and Mother’s Cake & Cookie Company in Oakland, Wright is just about ready to put on her bunny suit and pass out goodies.

“I’m just trying to do something good to give back to community,” she said. “I’ve gotten blessed by all this.” Wright, who has worked in the entertainment industry as a Tina Turner impersonator for nearly a decade, said it was her late father, Frank Wright, who taught her the meaning of community service. Her father, who was a religious man, worked for the San Francisco Police Department for 40 years. While growing up, she said, her dad always helped the low-income children and families of the neighborhood.

“Right before my dad passed away, he made me promise to give back to the community,”Wright said. “He told me, ‘I know you love entertaining, but it’s not about yourself. It’s about giving back to the kids.'”

That was three years ago.

But Wright took heed of her father’s words long before he died. In fact, in 2000, she was named the city of Oakland’s “Mother of the Year” and KPIX Channel 5’s “Hometown Hero.”

Through her nonprofit, Wright says she plans to continue helping those in need. The Kiesha Wright Children’s Foundation, which she founded in Oakland along with her father, is dedicated to helping senior citizens, single parents, low-income families and handicapped children.

Wright said, “Our main objective is to strengthen the community through giving families and their children the hope to see and know there is a better life beyond drugs and violence.”

For more information email us at kieshaellawright.com