Operation Santa Claus Raises Over $1Million for Valley Charities
(Phoenix, AZ) – Thousands of Arizona families will have a better Christmas thanks to ABC15’s 14th annual Operation Santa Claus drive in partnership with Sanderson Ford and Sanderson Lincoln.
For the first time ever, this year’s drive raised over $1 million in cash and donations thanks to the generosity of Arizona.
“The 14th Annual Operation Santa Claus was the most organized and best one yet,” said David Kimmerle, president of Sanderson Ford and Sanderson Lincoln. “It’s grown and grown over the past 14 years. I just want to say thank you to ABC15, iHeart Media, the charities, and most importantly the community in helping us reach our goal of one million dollars in cash and donations for the first time. Thank you Arizona for raising $1,003,226.00 for Operation Santa Claus. All proceeds will stay in state and help thousands of Arizona families.”
Donations will benefit Military Assistance Mission (MAM), Ronald McDonald House Charities of Phoenix, Inc., Southwest Autism Research and Resource Center (SARRC) and St. Mary’s Food Bank Alliance.
One lucky donor also won a brand new car from Sanderson Ford and Sanderson Lincoln as part of a random drawing.
Randy Phillips from Flagstaff is taking home a brand new vehicle from Sanderson Ford. He was among thousands who entered to win the vehicle as a thank you for the donations.
“Operation Santa Claus is all about giving hope to our neighbors in need,” said Anita Helt, vice-president and general manager at ABC15. “Our viewers’ generosity is inspiring and continues to show us the meaning of the holidays.”
The month-long campaign concluded today with an annual “human chain” of volunteers to pack trucks with this year’s donations. The chain lined the ABC15 building and stretched all the way out to the parking lot, staffed by Operation Santa Claus partners from iHeart Media, The UPS Stores and each of the four participating charities that benefit from the drive.
ABC15 and Sanderson Ford and Sanderson Lincoln were proud to partner with iHeart Media and The UPS Store locations for this annual drive and look forward to continuing the tradition in 2016.
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