Santa Fund marks 100 years of helping those in need
NORTH ANDOVER — The Eagle-Tribune’s annual Santa Fund is back for its 100th year of helping local families in need have a happy and healthy holiday season.
Since 1924, the Santa Fund has raised money from generous contributions from the community and local businesses and organizations to provide children and families with gifts and food during the holidays.
The Santa Fund looks to raise at least $70,000 this holiday season. Last year, donations were just shy of that total and gave more than 1,200 toys. As of Tuesday, $13,073 has been raised.
Donors give in the name of loved ones, friends and organizations and write short messages in the holiday spirit.
Money raised goes toward gifts and food such as stocking stuffers like small toys and books, holiday meal starters or a complete family feast. Donations can also cover the cost of a complete gift set including a toy, warm clothing and small holiday meal for a child.
The Santa Fund was founded by the Rogers family who owned the Evening Tribune in 1924.
The local tradition has endured for a century due to the outpouring of support from the community and readers, said Jim Falzone, publisher of The Eagle-Tribune. Generations of past and present Eagle-Tribune employees have handled the administrative duties of the Santa Fund over the years.
“The charity has persevered because of the continuous, heartfelt, generosity of donations from the community,” Falzone said. “It’s no exaggeration to say that the Santa Fund has helped hundreds of thousands of families.”
Once again, The Eagle-Tribune has collaborated with the Merrimack Valley YMCA. The YMCA has been involved with the Santa Fund since 2020. The organization’s involvement has grown over the years, first helping compile donor messages for newspaper publication to distributing the donations.
“The YMCA team has become an invaluable partner to The Eagle-Tribune Santa Fund, to make it a successful, charitable program,” Falzone said.
Francis Kenneally III, president and CEO of the Merrimack Valley YMCA, said through its partnership with the Eagle Tribune, it has been about to expand its reach to more families and children regionally.
“One of my favorite things we’ve been able to do through this partnership is expand our teen gift drive and host an intergenerational dinner with our teens and the residents in our transitional housing in Lawrence,” Kenneally said. “These opportunities to come together and share a warm meal is what the holiday season is about.”
The YMCA partners with community organizations such as Salvation Army, Community Action, Londonderry Rotary Club, Family Continuity, the Derry Community Fund and the North Andover Youth Center to distribute gifts and food. In addition to gifts, the YMCA includes a $100 Market Basket gift card for families to purchase specific items they may need for their holiday meals.
“We encourage anyone with a need this holiday season to reach out to the Santa Fund and we will provide gifts and food to anyone in need,” Kenneally said. “The YMCA works to make the holidays special for all children. The Santa Fund donors have been very generous in filling wish lists.”
Kenneally said staff in Lawrence and Methuen will work with families to fulfill necessities like winter coats and baby items and wish list gifts from kids and teens.
Mary and Ted Murphy’s Garrison Golf Center Hole-in-One Contest makes one of the largest donations to the Santa Fund every year. The family-owned, Haverhill business has raised money for the cause for 54 years.
Falzone acknowledged there are hundreds of people and businesses in the area which have been strong supporters annually for the charity.
Donations can be made online at p2p.onecause.com/santafund.
Donation forms are also printed in the Eagle Tribune. Mail forms to Merrimack Valley YMCA c/o Santa Fund, 280 Merrimack St., Suite 500, Lawrence, M.A., 01843.
Any questions about the Santa Fund should be directed to Erica Dinsmore by calling 978-725-6681 or emailing edinsmore@mvymca.org.
