Thanks to the generosity of our donors from all walks of life, the Toronto Star Santa Claus Fund has reached its goal of $ 1.5 million for this year.
Your support will go a long way toward bringing thousands of kids across the GTA to the joy of receiving a gift during Christmas.
Even amid the beating of another wave of record COVID cases, supporters of the Santa Claus Fund, new and old, stepped up to show that the act of giving can bring a ray of hope during our time of collective hardship. .
But the work is not done, because the need is greater than ever. Let’s keep giving so that more children can enjoy this holiday season for years to come. It has been a tradition of the Santa Claus Fund since its inception in 1906 with the vision of Star’s longtime publisher, Joseph Atkinson.
“Our readers are once again showing us first-hand the true meaning of Christmas,” says Star co-owner Jordan Bitove. “Reaching and exceeding the $ 1.5 million goal is not only extraordinary, it is a clear message to the less fortunate families of our city that they are not forgotten and that they are loved.”
As of Friday, donations totaled $ 1,550,421.00. A year ago, the final count for public donations was $ 1,765,952. The goal is to reach and exceed that figure again this season.
That made it possible to distribute 45,000 boxes from the Santa Claus Fund to underprivileged children in Toronto, Mississauga, Brampton, Ajax and Pickering. This year, our 116th campaign, at least 50,000 boxes, which is 5,000 more than in 2020, will land at the gates, including shelters.
The highest amount ever raised was $ 2,393,459, in 2007.
Depending on the age of the child, each gift box is appropriately stacked with essentials such as a hoodie, hat, gloves, socks, a book, a small toy, cookies, toothbrush / toothpaste, and baby accessories as per be necessary.
This newspaper assumes all marketing, administrative and operational costs, allowing 100 percent of donor dollars to go directly to fund initiatives.
Let’s keep giving.
Reference-www.thestar.com