Turning Wishes to Santa into Reality
a means for people who “have” to become Santa for kids who have not
Santa for a Day is a 501 (c) (3) Public Charity,
so your generosity goes straight to the children.
OUR MISSION
Santa for a Day fulfills letters to Santa from disadvantaged kids. Teaching youngsters the power of the pen… and then rewarding their efforts, by translating their wishes into reality, helping them author a different, more positive narrative about life, one sparked by optimism and the vision of a brighter future
ABOUT US
Santa For A Day is just that: a means for people who “have” to become Santa for kids who have not. There are needy children writing letters to Santa this season, whose wishes will go unanswered – Unless you step in… And here’s how: Santa for a Day is collecting letters from nearly 2000 underprivileged kids living in Chicago. Here, on santaforday.info, you can make their dreams come true on Christmas morning – browse letters, select gifts, or simply let Santa decide – but most important is the joy you can bring, where it otherwise might not happen. We’re a non-profit, so your generosity goes straight to the children.
Santa for a Day (SFAD) is a non-religiously affiliated 501(c)(3) Public Charity providing holiday gifts, basic needs, and educational supplies for disadvantaged children living in urban areas. Our aim is to reach into America’s most impoverished neighborhoods and show the power of goodness in the face of adversity through the holiday spirit. Our two-fold mission includes spreading hope while empowering childhood literacy- we teach youngsters the power of the pen and reward their efforts by translating their wishes into reality. Santa for a Day has been operating since 2018 and last year, SFAD reached more than 6,800 children, delivering almost 14,000 holiday presents in Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Detroit, Kansas City, Milwaukee, and Philadelphia.
SFAD matches private donors with individual children to help fulfill letters to Santa from underserved children. In the face of economic hardship brought on by COVID-19, we expanded our program to provide children with educational supplies and basic needs items in addition to their requested presents.
SFAD serves children ages 5-12 from low-income, marginalized, and vulnerable communities, the majority of whom live more than 150% below the Federal Poverty Line in urban areas and/or city owned public housing properties. Our kids are disproportionately Black, Hispanic, Asian, Native American, and/or come from socio-economically disadvantaged backgrounds.
TESTIMONIALS
Programs such as Santa for a Day have the unique power to dramatically transform the arc of a young child’s personality as well as to transform the trajectory of his or her future… Whether they believe in Santa or not, God-bless all who support this wonderful and life-changing endeavor!”
– US Congressman Danny Davis (IL)
“As someone devoted to making government at all levels more efficient and responsive to my constituents, I find it remarkable how a volunteer concept, like Santa for a Day, that is so elegant in its simplicity, can so quickly leverage such wide-spread, and heart-felt, joy and cheer!”
– Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson (MI)
Our National Sponsors
OUR PROCESS
- Kids write a letter addressed to Santa.
- The Chicago Housing Authority (CHA) collects all letters.
- SFAD receives redacted letters with wish lists.
- SFAD matches the child’s gift request to available online items.
- Donors can read redacted letters, select gift and pay with credit card.
- Order is encrypted then transmitted to online retailer.
GET INVOLVED
Volunteers make our work a success. We hope you will consider the many ways to give of your time: Letter writing events: assist younger children in writing their letters to Santa. Identifying gifts: Johnny wants a red fire truck, but which red fire truck is it?
Ways to Give
STOCKS AND MUTUAL FUNDS
Take the tax-wise approach and donate stock or mutual funds. Download Stock Donation Instructions.
IN-KIND DONATIONS
Our organization welcomes in-kind gifts including computers, supplies, and your expertise. Please email info@santaforaday.org if you would like to contribute products or services to Santa for a Day.
PLANNED GIVING
Consider including the Santa for a Day in your planned giving and join the Santa for a Day Legacy Fund.
DONATE YOUR CAR
Buying a new car? Getting rid of an old one? You can easily donate your vehicle and you will get a minimum of $500 tax deduction AND Santa for a Day receives proceeds to support our work!
