CEOs Let Employees Wrap Them Up in the Name of Charity

The building was bustling with activity Friday morning as 320 Silicon Valley employees and their CEOs gathered together at the makeshift (FGT) warehouse, set up in the old Mervyn's building in Milpitas. 

They were all there to take part in FGT's annual Executive Elf Challenge.

The action was fast and furious, as executives and staff competed to see who could sort, shop, and wrap all the presents on their lists as quickly as possible.

The contest lasted one hour, and this year's winner was the team from RTI.

FGT, a nonprofit based in Milpitas, will distribute all the wrapped presents to needy families throughout the Bay Area, encompassing 16 counties, this holiday season. According to FGT founder, executive director and "Queen Elf" Jennifer Cullenbine, they expect to give gifts to 60,000 children this year. 

Companies that took place in the Executive Elf Challenge included Cisco, Siemens Ultrasound, Aruba, Samsung, RTI, Technology Credit Union and more.

After the contest was completed, each team dressed up their CEO as Santa, using only left-over wrapping paper. All the Santas then took part in a parade around the warehouse, much to the delight of their employees.

There's still time left to donate a gift to Family Giving Tree, or volunteer to wrap presents. For more information, visit www.familygivingtree.org or visit the warehouse, located in the old Mervyn's building at 749 E. Calaveras Blvd. in Milpitas.

FGT's warehouse space for this year was donated by Macerich Properties.