Vashon Youth & Family Services is seeking island support for a surprise matching gift.

On Dec. 9, VYFS received notice from the Cedarwoods Foundation of Minneapolis, Minnesota, that it would match, dollar-for-dollar up to $10,000, funds raised during the agency’s 2016 Annual Holiday Appeal, now under way. Funds need to be received before Dec. 25 to qualify for the match.

The Cedarwoods Foundation has connections to Vashon through a summer resident who did not wish to be specifically identified, VYFS Executive Director Kathleen Johnson said.

Through this connection, the foundation learned of the loss of United Way funds VYFS is facing for at-risk youth programs and Vashon Kids’ scholarships. Johnson noted the matching funds from this grant will be allocated to fund VYFS programs for at-risk youth on the island, including mental health counseling at no charge.

Islanders can go to vyfs.org to give online, or can give through the island-wide holiday mailing sent out at the beginning of December. The VYFS holiday elves also accept donations and will be at Thriftway, Vashon Market IGA and roaming around town the weekend of Dec. 16, 17 and 18.

The Annual Holiday Appeal is one of the major fundraising sources for VYFS, funding programs like Vashon Kids’ scholarships, mental health counseling, emergency financial assistance for islanders in critical need and parent education classes at the Playspace.

For more information about the agency, see vyfs.org.