Well, it’s that time of year again: time to begin the preparations before the 2009 Holiday Season. We at Hillside Special Santas cherish the early Fall months, when we still have a moment to breathe before the Holiday rush sets in. We’ve been busy connecting with donors and volunteers, setting up our *new* Hillside Special Santas Headquarters, and most importantly, gathering gift wish requests from over 6,000 youth enrolled in services with Hillside Family of Agencies.
Our numbers are higher than ever this year at Hillside Special Santas: we are expecting to provide 3 new gifts a piece for 4,200 youth in the Rochester area, 700 youth in the Buffalo region, and 1,100 youth in the Syracuse area. In total, that adds up to a lofty goal of 18,000 gifts! In addition, we hope to supply each family receiving gifts with a modest grocery gift card, to help round out a holiday meal.
Hillside Special Santas cannot reach this goal without you. We have already received calls from several gracious individuals, office groups, and organizations, asking how they can help this holiday season. We encourage you to plan ahead, and give us a call at (585) 256-7630 to set up your donation to Hillside Special Santas. You can also follow the reindeer at www.Hillside.com to read about more ways to give.
Wednesday, September 30, 2009
Thursday, December 25, 2008
A Holiday message to our Hillside Special Santas
Because of our many Hillside Special Santas within the Hillside Family of Agencies communities, more than 5,900 children and families are celebrating their holidays with toys, warm clothing, books, dolls, and games. Teens are enjoying their music, jewelry, books & journals, hoodies, hats & gloves and colognes. Families are thrilled with their grocery gift cards and we were thrilled with cash donations to purchase what was needed most.
You are the Hillside Special Santa who made it all happen, whether through the donation of a gift or gifts, volunteering your time, or organizing your office, scout, school or community group to participate. To you, we thank you more than we could ever say.
We also thank our many Hillside Special Santa Community Partners who we provided gift collection boxes and gift wish tags in close to 100 locations throughout Western and Central New York. Our Hillside Special Santa media partners provided creative messages about our kids and how to get involved. Thank you.
What a happy day for our children and families, and you too. Be happy today because you have done a wonderful thing for a child or family who you will never know, but they know you. You are their Hillside Special Santa. Feel good!
Happy holidays to you and your family from all of us here at Hillside Family of Agencies.
You are the Hillside Special Santa who made it all happen, whether through the donation of a gift or gifts, volunteering your time, or organizing your office, scout, school or community group to participate. To you, we thank you more than we could ever say.
We also thank our many Hillside Special Santa Community Partners who we provided gift collection boxes and gift wish tags in close to 100 locations throughout Western and Central New York. Our Hillside Special Santa media partners provided creative messages about our kids and how to get involved. Thank you.
What a happy day for our children and families, and you too. Be happy today because you have done a wonderful thing for a child or family who you will never know, but they know you. You are their Hillside Special Santa. Feel good!
Happy holidays to you and your family from all of us here at Hillside Family of Agencies.
Wednesday, December 24, 2008
Realtors make a difference
For the past several years, the Greater Rochester Association of Realtors (GRAR) and their Holiday Party Task Force have put on a holiday party for the organization’s members. The Holiday Party Task Force is made up of volunteers that plan the event and work to sell tickets to the organization’s members.
Through a message on each ticket, the Task Force asks each ticket buyer to bring a new, unwrapped gift to the event for Hillside Special Santas.
“We have a tremendous group of volunteers that make up the Holiday Party Task Force. I have been involved over the last several years and we usually average 200 gifts at our event. It is a tremendous sight to see the table expand with gifts as the Realtors enter the event,” says John Antetomaso, Re/Max Plus Realtor and GRAR member.
As in past years, Hillside Special Santas Director Sally Bohne attended this year’s event.
“Sally has become a great friend of our event,” says John.
He adds that the party and the gift donations are just another way that Realtors in the Rochester area make a difference in the community.
“If you ask any of us, we are so happy to do it,” says John.The children and families that benefit from the gifts the Realtors donated to Hillside Special Santas are also happy because the simple act of donating a gift has helped to make their holiday brighter.
Through a message on each ticket, the Task Force asks each ticket buyer to bring a new, unwrapped gift to the event for Hillside Special Santas.
“We have a tremendous group of volunteers that make up the Holiday Party Task Force. I have been involved over the last several years and we usually average 200 gifts at our event. It is a tremendous sight to see the table expand with gifts as the Realtors enter the event,” says John Antetomaso, Re/Max Plus Realtor and GRAR member.
As in past years, Hillside Special Santas Director Sally Bohne attended this year’s event.
“Sally has become a great friend of our event,” says John.
He adds that the party and the gift donations are just another way that Realtors in the Rochester area make a difference in the community.
“If you ask any of us, we are so happy to do it,” says John.The children and families that benefit from the gifts the Realtors donated to Hillside Special Santas are also happy because the simple act of donating a gift has helped to make their holiday brighter.
Tuesday, December 23, 2008
Bright Spot shines on Hillside Special Santas
Hillside Special Santas was featured in the Bright Spot during the 6:00 p.m. newscast on 13 WHAM TV on December 19. Here is a link to the clip which features the kids from Neil Armstrong Elementary School's Service Club, volunteers from Xerox, and Santa Claus himself.
Word is, Santa made the trip to Hillside Special Santas Rochester Region Headquarters on a motorcycle. There may be pictures. Check back soon!
Monday, December 22, 2008
Hillside Special Santas is in need of...
Hillside Special Santas has just a few more days to fulfill the holiday wishes of the 5,900 youth form over 4,000 families Hillside Family of Agencies serves.In order to meet the program's gift goal, Hillside Special Santas really needs online donations.
It's a simple, and yet very effect way to make a difference this holiday.
Log on to http://www.hillside.com and follow the reindeer to the Hillside Special Santas section of the site. Click on the "Donate Online" link to access the online donation page.
Each donation helps to make the holidays brighter for the youth and families Hillside serves.
Tuesday, December 16, 2008
Time’s running out to become a Hillside Special Santa
Don’t miss a chance to make the holidays brighter for a child in need this year.
With only a short time remaining to collect gifts this holiday season, Hillside Special Santas is asking anyone who has not donated a gift to consider doing so. That’s because the program’s goal is to collect more than 17,700 gifts for 5,900 youth from 4,000 families across New York.
“That is a lot of gifts. But, most people would be surprised at how even the smallest gift will help us meet out goal this year,” said Sally Bohne, Hillside Special Santas director.
Bohne notes that Hillside Special Santas asks for new, unwrapped gifts that cost less than $25.
“We have several gifts that are requested more often than others. The issue is that as we fill more requests and get closer to the end of this year’s collection campaign, we are running low on those gifts,” said Bohne.
The most requested gifts that Hillside Special Santas is still in need of include: hats, gloves, scarves, and socks; gift and food cards; hoodies for teens and all ages; arts and crafts (moon sand, jewelry, and art supplies); games–both electronic and board games; duffel or sports bags; basketballs, footballs, and fishing poles; toiletries, lotions, and make-up kits; sports watches for girls and guys; new books for all ages–babies through teens; and learning toys for babies, tots, and kids.
For information on specific gift needs and where to drop off last-minute donations in your area, call (585) 256-7630, (716) 848-6416, or (315) 258-2191.
Donations can also be made online by following the reindeer at http://www.hillside.com.
With only a short time remaining to collect gifts this holiday season, Hillside Special Santas is asking anyone who has not donated a gift to consider doing so. That’s because the program’s goal is to collect more than 17,700 gifts for 5,900 youth from 4,000 families across New York.
“That is a lot of gifts. But, most people would be surprised at how even the smallest gift will help us meet out goal this year,” said Sally Bohne, Hillside Special Santas director.
Bohne notes that Hillside Special Santas asks for new, unwrapped gifts that cost less than $25.
“We have several gifts that are requested more often than others. The issue is that as we fill more requests and get closer to the end of this year’s collection campaign, we are running low on those gifts,” said Bohne.
The most requested gifts that Hillside Special Santas is still in need of include: hats, gloves, scarves, and socks; gift and food cards; hoodies for teens and all ages; arts and crafts (moon sand, jewelry, and art supplies); games–both electronic and board games; duffel or sports bags; basketballs, footballs, and fishing poles; toiletries, lotions, and make-up kits; sports watches for girls and guys; new books for all ages–babies through teens; and learning toys for babies, tots, and kids.
For information on specific gift needs and where to drop off last-minute donations in your area, call (585) 256-7630, (716) 848-6416, or (315) 258-2191.
Donations can also be made online by following the reindeer at http://www.hillside.com.
Wednesday, December 10, 2008
One week left!
That's right, we're down to the final stretch in this year's Hillside Special Santas campaign. December 17 is the last day to drop gifts off at our Community Partner locations this year.
Hillside Special Santas is still in need of our most requested gifts, such as hoodies, winter attire (gloves, hats, mittens, etc.), sports supplies (basketballs, footballs, etc.), and gift cards.
Here's a story from Community Partner News 10 Now that talks a little more about the effort this year in Syracuse and the surrounding communities in the final days of this year's campaign.
http://tinyurl.com/6qvxsk
Hillside Special Santas is still in need of our most requested gifts, such as hoodies, winter attire (gloves, hats, mittens, etc.), sports supplies (basketballs, footballs, etc.), and gift cards.
Here's a story from Community Partner News 10 Now that talks a little more about the effort this year in Syracuse and the surrounding communities in the final days of this year's campaign.
http://tinyurl.com/6qvxsk
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