Jen Lilley Headlined ’90s-Themed Christmas Event to Help Children in Need
By Movieguide® Contributor
As a part of Great American Christmas, Jen Lilley hosted A Very 90s Christmas, the proceeds of which went toward toys for kids in need.
In 2020, Lilley created the Christmas is Not Canceled program to donate toys to children in need during the pandemic.
“[It began] as a one-time campaign, and it’s kept going,” Lilley told PEOPLE. “We’ve served over 72,000 children already and we have an aggressive goal of 25,000 more this holiday season. And to kick off the event, we are hosting a ‘90s night.”
Lilley’s A Very 90s Christmas featured FULL HOUSE’s Andrea Barber, Dave Coulier and Marla Sokoloff, along with Lacy Chabert, Joey Lawrence and Danica McKellar.
The event sent all of its proceeds towards Christmas is Not Canceled.
“We give bikes, we give roller skates, we give Squishmellows, we give Legos,” Lilley said. “We really make sure that these are toys that my own children would want to receive and that a parent wants to give their child.”
The program works with Toys for Tots to purchase and distribute these amazing gifts.
“When you bring a Marine to tears, you’ve done something right,” the actress said. “The way Toys for Tots is set up is, they give the gift to the parents and then the parents get to give the gift to the child, which I think provides a lot of dignity.”
“We’ve had multiple [Toys for Tots] offices all over the United States tell us how much they love us and every year reaching out, ‘Are you going to participate again? We really want your help,’” she added. “They reached a record-breaking gift giving year last year, and that was widely in part to us, they said. So that’s pretty awesome.”
While A Very 90s Christmas took place last Saturday, Christmas is Not Canceled has many other upcoming events. This Saturday, Lilley is hosting a “Christmas Movie Charcuterie” board class.
Other upcoming events include calligraphy, gift wrapping and tablescape design classes, a celebrity gingerbread house competition and more.
Movieguide® previously reported:
Jen Lilley is encouraging people to get involved with her Christmas Is Not Canceled campaign to combat “helplessness” and to “come together with people.”
“I started Christmas Is Not Canceled because of the feeling I’m feeling right now, which is helplessness,” the actress said in a recent Instagram Live, referring to the ongoing Hamas-Israel conflict. “I try to be an action-oriented person, which is why I started Christmas Is Not Canceled.”
Christmas Is Not Canceled “started as a one-time mission to give Christmas to families in crisis during the pandemic [but] has evolved into a series of impactful giving campaigns featuring family-friendly celebrities from various networks, centered around fostering a sense of community that gives back,” per the organization’s website.
“I do feel that every child deserves Christmas memories or holiday memories with their family, and I feel that it’s really nice to be able to put your anxious energy into doing something good for other people,” Lilley continued.
Now more than ever we’re bombarded by darkness in media, movies, and TV. Movieguide® has fought back for almost 40 years, working within Hollywood to propel uplifting and positive content. We’re proud to say we’ve collaborated with some of the top industry players to influence and redeem entertainment for Jesus. Still, the most influential person in Hollywood is you. The viewer.
What you listen to, watch, and read has power. Movieguide® wants to give you the resources to empower the good and the beautiful. But we can’t do it alone. We need your support.
You can make a difference with as little as $7. It takes only a moment. If you can, consider supporting our ministry with a monthly gift. Thank you.
Movieguide® is a 501c3 and all donations are tax deductible.
Now more than ever we’re bombarded by darkness in media, movies, and TV. Movieguide® has fought back for almost 40 years, working within Hollywood to propel uplifting and positive content. We’re proud to say we’ve collaborated with some of the top industry players to influence and redeem entertainment for Jesus. Still, the most influential person in Hollywood is you. The viewer.
What you listen to, watch, and read has power. Movieguide® wants to give you the resources to empower the good and the beautiful. But we can’t do it alone. We need your support.
You can make a difference with as little as $7. It takes only a moment. If you can, consider supporting our ministry with a monthly gift. Thank you.
Movieguide® is a 501c3 and all donations are tax deductible.
