More than 1100 Club members received gifts for Christmas 2020
Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Houston’s 12th annual Santa Project has set a record in 2020, fulfilling Christmas wish lists for more than 1,100 children and teens. The event’s success was due to the participation of lead sponsor Kroger and media partner CW39, along with the generosity of individuals and companies who sponsor Club members and families to guarantee they would have a happy holiday season.
From Dec. 3 – 11, sponsors dropped off hundreds of holiday gifts for their assigned Club members to the Boys & Girls Clubs administrative offices at 815 Crosby St., observing COVID-19 safety protocols. The building’s multi-purpose room was transformed into Santa’s Workshop at the North Pole where Boys & Girls Clubs staff, aka “Santa’s Helpers,” spent hours sorting and wrapping toys for boys and girls at 23 Clubs in a five-county area.
Photo Caption: Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Houston’s 12th annual Santa Project has set a record in 2020, fulfilling Christmas wish lists for more than 1,100 children and teens. Participants featured in photos represent Cool Dads, Kroger, Reliant, mascots Hugo and Blue and CW39. Photos by Tiffani Wesson, Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Houston.
This year, Lowe’s donated 199 lighted, artificial Christmas trees for families, while Kroger supplied gift cards to help ensure food security, including a special holiday meal. Part of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Houston’s mission is to inspire and enable youth, especially those who need it most. In 2020, this goes beyond after-school and summer programming in the Clubs.
“Through the Boys & Girls Clubs Santa Project, we are able to give parents that extra boost so they can share in the special moment that is Christmas morning,” says Kevin Hattery, Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Houston President and CEO. “Kroger has long been a valued partner, and we had a first-time affiliation with TV sponsor CW39, which did an outstanding job of spreading the word about the opportunity on their morning newscasts and website, along with a live, onsite newscast.”
“We are truly grateful to our many corporate and individual donors who stepped up during a difficult year to help spread some holiday magic,” continues Hattery. “The community continues to support the Boys & Girls Clubs mission to help our Boys & Girls Club members and their families.”
Santa Project recipients from each of the 23 Club locations in a five-county area are considered the most in need by Club Directors. The Directors then work with parents or guardians to obtain wish lists for holiday gifts for each child or teen – both needed and wanted items.
This year, these items included bicycles, electronics, sports equipment, games, clothing and much more. Club directors deliver the gifts to parents in time for Christmas, which will be placed under their trees. The presents are designated to either be from Santa Claus or the parents, depending on the age of the child.
Santa Project support was strong for Boys & Girls Clubs in outlying communities, with 452 wish lists fulfilled. These include Wharton County (140 total); Galveston County (105 total) and Fort Bend County (207 total).
To learn more about Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Houston, please visit www.bgcgh.org.