Summer Santa's Summer Giving Time For The Children!
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Samantha Farris
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Bridges Work
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Bridges Work
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Samantha Farris
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The summer of 2022 was a busy giving time for Summer Santa. For the first time since 2019, the Back-To-School Shopping and Summer Camp activities were in full swing for in-person shopping and attendance at camp for children.
Camp placement for over 170 children in the day or overnight camp of their choice started in the spring and culminated in June. The Camp Scholarship Program is funded by grants, corporate and individual donations and fundraising endeavors. A team of six board members worked with school counselors from the six school districts in Northeast Tarrant County, camp directors and parents to place each child nominated by a counselor in a camp of their choice.
One hundred and eighty-five children were treated to a Back-To-School Shopping Spree chaired at Southlake Kohl's. Smiling children left holding their bags of clothes, a backpack stuffed with supplies and two books of their choice. Summer Santa created more smiles by donating 1,500 books to the charity, Bridges Work's finale for their summer reading program. All children were rewarded with 15 books.
Summer Santa had a rewarding summer because of the many dedicated volunteers and supporters. There were 266 Southlake National Charity League and Young Men’s Service League volunteers that helped with Back-To-School Shopping. Kohl’s employees volunteered their time to help check out Summer Santa shoppers. Other key contributors were ProPlayers Foundation, Henry Schein, Friends of Summer Santa, KPMG, CMA, Randy White Real Estates Service, Sports Clips and Greg Savera (GM of the Southlake Kohl’s).
Fundraising efforts generate funding for Summer Santa’s programs throughout the year. Summer Santa’s fall fundraiser is presented by Food Saved Me!, and will be held on Oct. 15 at the DFW Marriott Solana. Tickets for this fang-tastic Boo Bash are available through Sunday, Oct. 9 at SummerSanta.org.
Volunteers and donations made by supporters are essential to keeping Summer Santa, a 501c3, an all-volunteer no paid staff charity. 90% of all donations benefit the Summer Santa programs for children in Northeast Tarrant County. Donations can be made on the website, SummerSanta.org.
