Santas Anonymous
CLICK HERE • SANTAS EVENTS 2008
CLICK HERE • FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
"Helping Children and families in need… no matter what the need."
Santas Anonymous Society is now celebrating 30 years of helping children in Greater Victoria. The 12 member Volunteer Board oversees the running of the society and the distribution of funds. Some ten years ago the Board decided to extend activities throughout the year in order to assist with funding requests for selected special children’s projects in the Greater Victoria Area.
Administration:
The Society has no paid staff, but approximately 250 volunteers contribute their time and energy, especially at Christmas, which is the busiest time of the year for the Society’s major activities. The administrator, Dusty Cunningham, oversees the volunteer involvements and fundraising activities throughout the year.
Costs for administering Santas Office are paid for 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 Broughton Street” Radiothon sponsored 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 $95,000.00 to $100,000.00.
A donated Warehouse (“Santas Workshop”) is utilized for this food program. Once again John Asfar, President and CEO Traveller’s Inn Hotels & Resorts has generously donated the workshop. A special thank you to John, his manager Claudio Di Piero and Donna Petrie, Director of Sales & Marketing who willingly help our volunteers.
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 Malls, including Mayfair Mall, Hillside Centre, Westshore Town Centre and Tillicum Mall (Zeller’s location). Selected Royal Banks are also involved in distribution of bears and cookie sales.
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 Victoria Model Railway Show, The Out of Hand Craft Fair, Victoria 8 Ball Association, Sundays’ Snowflakes Annual Fashion Show, BCRFA Restaurant Gift Auction and Phantom Dinner. The Annual Victoria Remote Control Air Show, The Firefighter’s Annual Merryrun, Air Canada Jazz, Spirit of Santa Flights plus many businesses hold their own events within their offices to lend support to our organization. For example, DFH Realty donated $50.00 per listing during December-this is partially matched by TD Canada Trust and Megson Fitzpatrick. Over the last two years this one corporate event raised over $38,000.
Part of the funds collected from these activities is available for “Special Project” giving by C-FAX Santas Anonymous Board, chaired by Don Monsour seeks out important projects and examines requests.
The “Special Project” first and foremost benefits children and youth under 18.
Examples of Special Projects:
- CNIB – Snoezelen Bus Project
- Boys & Girls Club – Sunshine Bus
- Down syndrome – Educational Aids, School Lunch Programs
- Spinoza Bears
- The Victor School Bus
- Victoria Read Society
- The Victor School Adaptive playground.
- Salvation Army Children’s School Breakfast Programme
- Stelleys’ Climbing Wall
- Saseenos School playground
On an even larger scale, funding has been provided to:
- Victoria General Hospital Special Needs Nursery ($25,000 a year for four years)
- Jubilee Hospital Mental Health Crisis Centre ($100,000.00 over two years) (Fund designated for services to children and youth with mental problems.)
Our “Special Project” activities average some $70,000.00 - $100,000.00 annually.
The Board Members for 2007 are as follows:
- President - Don Monsour – Consultant to Tourism and Hospitality Industry
- Vice President - Terry Spence – Manager, C-FAX 1070
- Treasurer - Cathy Cox – Manager, Royal Bank
- Secretary - Shannon Kowalko – Promotions, C-FAX 1070
- Dave Cockle – Oak Bay Fire Department
- Chris Coleman – Councilor, City of Victoria
- Joe Easingwood – Talk Show Host, C-FAX 1070
- Bill Lang – Restaurateur
- Wendy Graham – owner, Sundays’ Snowflakes
- Kevin Bell – Sales, C-FAX 1070
- Alan Brown – Sales, C-FAX 1070
- Bruce Williams – A Channel
- Dusty Cunningham – Administrator
Part of the success of C-FAX Santas Anonymous is that donors are aware that 100% of donations received goes directly to the Charity.
To donate to Santas Anonymous make cheques payable to C-FAX Santas Anonymous:
825 Broughton St.Victoria, BC
V8W 1E5"
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 santas@cfax1070.com
