Santas Anonymous
CLICK HERE • SANTAS EVENTS 2010
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"Helping children and families in need… no matter what the need."
Santas Anonymous Society is now celebrating 32 years of helping children in Greater Victoria. It is Victoria’s longest running children’s charity. A twelve member volunteer board oversees the running of the society and the distribution of funds. The board endeavors to make the Christmas "spirit of giving” continue throughout the year by making special grants available to projects dedicated to enhancing the lives of children in need.
Administration:
Administrator, Dusty Cunningham, oversees the volunteer involvements and fundraising activities throughout the year. Over 250 volunteers contribute their time and energy, especially at Christmas, which is the busiest time of the year for the Society’s major activities. However, other activities take place throughout the year to support our special grants programme.
Support for administering Santas Office is donated by C-FAX 1070 now owned by CTVglobemedia Inc.
Christmas Activities:
Food Hamper Program
The Society raises funds through general donations and special events, including the annual “Miracle on Broad Street Radiothon", supported by Thrifty Foods. Funds from this event are used to purchase foodstuffs for hampers that are distributed to designate families throughout the Capital Region District. Just before Christmas, volunteers pack around 1,070 hampers (one week of groceries) ready for self-pickup or delivery by volunteer firefighters. The contents of the hampers have been determined with Christmas and nutrition in mind.
“Santas” purchases food at favorable prices at an average annual cost of $100,000.00 to $110,000.00. This year, due to the current economic conditions we expect the demands on our charity to be greater than ever.
A donated Warehouse (“Santas Workshop”) is utilized for this food program. Santas is once again seeking donated space of 15,000 sq. ft. with a loading dock. Please call us if you know of any available space within greater Victoria.
C-FAX Santas Anonymous also donates food in response to requests and needs from organizations such as the Upper Room, The Open Door, Salvation Army and the Western Communities Food Bank.
Toys, Games & Gifts Program
This is the single largest activity of C-FAX Santas Anonymous. Between 3,000 and 3,500 children receive two presents each, donated anonymously by C-FAX 1070 listeners and shoppers at local malls. The presents match requests from the children themselves. (Names are provided through the Christmas Bureau).
Each fall, children from Greater Victoria schools colour paper bears, which are hung on Christmas Trees in all major Greater Victoria shopping centres, including Mayfair Mall, Hillside Centre and Westshore Town Centre. Selected Royal Banks are also involved in distribution of bears.
Printed on the back of the bears are children’s names (coded for privacy) with the name of the requested gift. Shoppers pick a bear, register with the volunteer and later return with the purchased toy or gift. All gifts are taken to the C-FAX Santas Anonymous Workshop for wrapping. This section of the workshop is a hive of activity as volunteers wrap and prepare packages for distribution to the children in time for Christmas morning.
We estimate an average cost of $40.00 per gift for a total value of over $250,000.00 in donated toys and gifts.
Again, “Santas” turns over any excess of toys, games and gifts to needy and worthy organizations throughout the community.
Special Fundraising Projects
Continuing “the spirit of giving” throughout the year, many organizations, service groups, corporate associations and businesses help to fundraise beyond the Christmas season. Thanks to C-FAX 1070, Santas Anonymous can publicize, advertise and promote these events and, in turn, encourage corporations to provide funds, which help to make these events possible.
Some special fundraising projects include the Out of Hand Craft Fair, Victoria 8 Ball Association, Sunday’s Snowflakes Annual Fashion Show, BCRFA Restaurant Gift Auction and Phantom Dinner. The Annual Victoria Remote Control Modeler’s Air Show, The Firefighter’s Annual Merrython, Helijet, Spirit of Christmas Santa Flights plus many businesses hold their own events within their offices to lend support to our organization. For example, DFH Realty donate $50.00 per listing November through January-this is partially matched by TD Canada Trust and Megson Fitzpatrick. We welcomed two new successful events this year, the Vancouver Island Truck Show and Victoria Jaguar Club Annual Car Show.
Part of the funds collected from these activities is available for “Special Project” grants. C-FAX Santas Anonymous Board reviews these important requests to determine their importance and necessity.
The “Special Project” first and foremost benefits children and youth under 18.
Successful Giving Grants 2008-2009
Conservatory of Music: $5,000.00 to Music Therapy Summer Programme for children 3 to 18, with physical challenges and/or critical illness
View Royal Elementary: $2,725.00 to purchase a washer and dryer for Life Skills programme for students with disabilities.
Craigflower Elementary: $27,000.00 to replace an aging playground.
Salvation Army: $50,000.00: to start and run a new youth residential facility for young girls 13-18 who are overcoming drug addiction, particularly crystal-meth.
Power to Be Society $20,000.00: to assist with the purchase of a van.
Elizabeth Buckley School: $1,500.00 for the purchase of desk for intake of children with autism.
Victor School: $20,000.00 to purchase a van to take autistic children out into the community.
Sooke Parents for Play: $20,000.00 to make possible a playground for pre-school and special needs children.
Octa Collective Society: $10,000.00 This grant supports a children’s Arts Reach project for disadvantaged children.
Milnes Stevens: $5,000.00 to assist in saving the vision of a young boy.
C-FAX Santas Anonymous also sponsored Burnside Children’s Christmas Party and with the generous help of Three Point Motors and their management and staff, we were able to have a successful Second Annual Christmas Party for children with Special Needs.
Our “Special Grant” giving depends on our special events and donations. We are blessed with the help of the Quested family for our involvement in the Royal Victoria Marathon Pledge Program. With the belief that children should learn early to give and the theme “Children helping Children” , Carter Quested is our tiny 4-year-old runner. To help Carter help C-FAX Santas Anonymous call 250.920.4644 and sign–up to collect pledges or donate “on line” to C-FAX Santas Anonymous through canadahelps.org
Santas Anonymous Board 2009:
Alan Brown - President
Kevin Bell - 1st VP
Rob Kivell - 2nd VP
Cathy Cox - Treasurer
Maureen Quested - Secretary
Joe Easingwood
Al Ferraby
Wendy Graham
Chris Coleman
Bruce Williams
Mel Cooper
Don Monsour - Past President
Administrator - Dusty Cunningham
To donate to Santas Anonymous, please make cheques payable to:
C-FAX Santas Anonymous
1420 Broad St.
Victoria, BC
V8W 2B1
If you would like more information about our society or a presentation to your group please call our administrator, Dusty Cunningham 250.920.4644
Or email cfax.santas@chumradio.com
