Philanthropy Today
Philanthropy Today
Op Santa on the GMCF Community Hour Show Episode - 256
We mark Veterans Day with a clear plan to support Fort Riley families and open the doors of Operation Santa Claus. Phil and Colin share how volunteers, donors, and soldiers create a seamless holiday experience built on dignity, choice, and community.
• Veterans Day breakfast, parade, and ceremony details
• Armed Forces Community Foundation Match Day and giving options
• Fort Riley’s economic footprint and why need is rising
• Operation Santa Claus mission and eligibility at E5 and below
• What each child receives: toys, book, stocking, game
• Role of volunteers: fundraising, decorating, wrapping, guiding parents
• New toy policy and reasons for quality control
• Drop-off times, unofficial photo day, official opening date
• Where to find updates: website first, Facebook limited
• Parade logistics, reviewing stand location, on-site donations
See you tomorrow at match day for the Armed Forces Community Foundation, which you'll be positioned right out front.
Philanthropy Today is brought to you by the Greater Manhattan Community Foundation. In this episode, we feature a recently broadcast segment of the GMTF Community Hour, as heard on news radio KMAN. We are back with the GMCF Community Hour. Here we are on Monday, November 10th. You know what tomorrow is, Phil?
SPEAKER_02:Tomorrow is Veterans Day, day. Thanks for the reminder of that. And Armed Forces Community Foundation match day. I believe. We got a few things to talk about. We do.
SPEAKER_01:This is Phil Maddox. Phil is uh president of Operation Santa Claus and very involved in uh the uh Armed Forces Community Foundation, which we house here within the Greater Manhattan Community Foundation. We surely do. You brought a bunny along.
SPEAKER_02:I did. I brought Colin Kingston along with me. An elf. Hello. Hi. Hello, nice to be here.
SPEAKER_01:Thank you for having me. How'd you get involved in that gig, Colin? Did Phil force you? He um asked me, twisted my arm, and I'm happy to be on it. Yes. Okay. Well, um, hey, let's just, you know, we we talked last week uh on the show about Veterans Day. You did. And uh just kind of a quick reminder tomorrow morning at 7, the Veterans Day breakfast at the American Legion. And biscuits and gravy, it's always a special treat. Fun time. Everybody treats me so nice, which is why I go. And you know, it's so unusual for me to be treated that nicely.
SPEAKER_02:Great food, but absolutely great food.
SPEAKER_01:Oh yes, and uh and then the parade downtown on points begins at 9 30. Right. And then the commemorative ceremony at 11 at Peace Memorial Auditorium, and um we'll be broadcasting that live on K-Man. Right. And then also it's available on Cox Cable Channel and and FaceTime or Facebook Live. Facebook. Something like that. Yeah, I think it's Facebook. But anyway, come down for the parade. And it looks like the weather's gonna be really nice.
SPEAKER_02:It's supposed to be 60 degrees in the afternoon. Now it'll still be a little chilly in the morning, but I think we're fine. It won't be the 20 of this morning. We'll take it. Absolutely.
SPEAKER_01:We've seen colder, haven't we, sir?
SPEAKER_02:We we had it uh, you know, I'll never forget when the kids had to be on the bus. Oh that what, three years ago, four years ago, when it was so cold and they had to put the kids on the bus?
SPEAKER_01:Yeah, and then you got the Vista veterans that you know they found an alternative means. That's right.
SPEAKER_02:Oh, it was miserable.
SPEAKER_01:But we have had so much fun with all that. But uh, we're gonna focus today here on our our talk, Phil. Um is it all right if I just call you Phil? Do I need to call you General?
SPEAKER_02:I think we're fine, sir. Phil's fine.
SPEAKER_01:We've known each other, we've known each other a long time nowadays. But Operation Santa, if we are getting that up close, and you know, um when we were out in the um, we'll call it the green room. Yeah. Around here it's more the orange room. Right. Uh because I share this, I share the facility with the Pooh Squad dude. Right. And uh and uh we were talking about, you know, getting into the Christmas spirit, and there are a lot of folks here that were at McCain last night for Straight No Chaser, including Christine Benny, who's out there for moral support. Um, you know, getting into the Christmas spirit and and um you know that that brings up so many different opportunities, challenges, it does, and goals for people that uh want to make sure that it's a it's a nice Christmas time for all.
SPEAKER_02:And that's of course, for us and our mission as far as offset is concerned at Fort Riley. It's so important this year. And we'll talk about it a little bit later the how you know how the government shut down and how much it's impacted. Heard this morning on the radio, maybe we're getting closer that they're gonna open it again. Uh let's hope so. Let's keep our fingers crossed, our prayers going, because it would be so great if we could get it back open again before Christmas time. Yeah.
SPEAKER_01:I know there are how many, there are like what, 20 organizations within the Armed Forces Community Foundation? 31.
SPEAKER_02:We have 31 organizations.
SPEAKER_01:Right where needed.
SPEAKER_02:And then we've been it's been all over the place. And then, of course, we've done things like Rotary uh to assist uh the red basket, those kind of things. So there's all kinds of people doing great things as far as the community is concerned, and certainly with our soldiers.
SPEAKER_01:There is a need in our community for soldiers and their families.
SPEAKER_02:There certainly is. The impact is a is truly amazing.
SPEAKER_01:Why is that?
SPEAKER_02:Um, there's a lot of reasons, uh, but one of the major ones, of course, is what the soldiers bring economically, of course, to Manhattan uh and have over the years is Fort Riley has bought so much uh to Fort Riley and to the communities, whether it be us or Junction City. But uh yeah, I mean the economic impact here is just it's enormous.
SPEAKER_01:It's millions of dollars, obviously. It's two billion economic impact in the region, right? Right. Still somewhere in that area. Right. Give or take a few hundred million.
SPEAKER_02:Give or take. So I was just talking to Sergeant Major at the hospital this morning about putting our box for Upsana at the hospital, at Irwin Army Hospital. And there's over 500 civilians at the hospital. There was Burlard right now. Really? So when you add that and you talk about it at Fort Riley as a whole, we're talking a lot of money. Yeah. Because the civilians aren't getting paid. The soldiers have gotten paid, but the civilians have not getting paid.
SPEAKER_01:Big deal. Big deal. Well, let's talk about Operation Santa Claus because that's why you and Colin over here. I was getting there. Sorry, no, I had to breathe. Uh, that's why you and Colin are are here today to talk about uh you know what Operation Santa Claus does.
SPEAKER_02:We are, and we uh as always uh glad to be here this morning. Operation Santa's in his 42nd year. Um, and uh we've just absolutely got the greatest bunch of volunteers going this year. We uh last year, just as a reminder, we served over 600, almost 700 soldiers, uh, and about 1,500 uh kids that that represents. Interesting enough, for this year already, talking about the economic impact and some of the things that are going on right now, today, and we open on the 19th of November. We have already filled 300 and and uh uh almost 400, let's just say, families have already signed up for obsend. And that represents almost 1,100 kids. Wow. And we haven't even gotten there yet. Yeah, so it's pretty amazing as to what's gonna happen from the perspective of what we believe is gonna be a monumental year of being able to help kids.
SPEAKER_01:How many kids do you think you typically help?
SPEAKER_02:As an average, it's been about a thousand to eleven to twelve. We're already above average, so we're above average. It is, it really is. So, you know, and we only do Sergeant D5 and below, is what we do. It's only Fort Riley. There's great things that happen here uh with Toys for Manhattan with Judy Pageant, but but this is purely uh us from the perspective of Fort Riley. Has been all along for that whole 41 years at this point, just being the 42nd years. So the kids uh, you know, it's fun. We have our own building, it's up next to the post office and uh Dunkin' Donuts up on the hill. Everybody knows pretty much where all that is. Uh, I think Colin like to talk about, if you can, about what the kids actually get.
SPEAKER_01:Colin, you're an elf. Yes, sir, I am. But when you're an elf for Operation Santa Claus, what are you doing for the kids? What's what's your role?
SPEAKER_00:Well, um, I do a little bit of everything as as do most of the elves. We wrap the presents, we help take the parents through to pick out the toys, we do the fundraising, which is uh primarily what I help with, sending out letters and asking for donors and things like that. We uh decorate uh the uh the uh workshop so that everything looks really nice and uh you know uh and with the holiday thing for the kids. We help take pictures with Santa. That's probably the funnest part of the thing I've done because to see the magic of the season in the kids' eyes when they're sitting on Santa's lap, that's just uh you know, really heartwarming.
SPEAKER_01:And and every kid that comes through uh gets something.
SPEAKER_00:Yes, every child uh free of charge gets uh two brand new toys, one book, one handmade uh Christmas stocking, and these are the most beautiful Christmas stockings you've ever seen. We have a group that makes them for us, that they do great. We also give them stuff uh uh we also give them stocking stuffers and either a puzzle or a or uh or a board game to uh to promote family unity. And uh some of the families bring their children and they let them pick the toys that they want. Others of them, the parents just come through and they pick the toys for them, and some of the parents have them wrap the presents and have us wrap the presents and some don't. So it's it's a it's a a little bit of everything. And I I like the fact that they get a board game or a uh puzzle to to uh promote family time during the holidays.
SPEAKER_01:Absolutely. I think that and and I like the book idea a lot as well.
SPEAKER_02:That's been a donation thing that uh uh Rotary's helped us with for several years. I don't know. Yeah, yeah. Byrne and his community cares. Um, and we've been able to get books, uh not as many this year, but the reality is uh the books have been great. Yeah, it's really the kids love it, uh, and the parents absolutely love it to be able to have the books too.
SPEAKER_01:So yeah, yeah, it's a good thing. So, Colin, you you kind of like being that elf, don't you?
SPEAKER_00:I love being an elf, it's one of my favorite things that I get to do. Uh-huh.
SPEAKER_01:Well, good for you for volunteering to do that. Oh, thank you.
SPEAKER_00:Plus, I get to take uh Santa around, Phil's, and help him with all kinds of things.
SPEAKER_01:I mean, you know, let's talk about the good things. Thanks, Dave. Let's talk about the donations because that's a key key aspect to Operation Santa Claus.
SPEAKER_02:Well, without a doubt, everybody can donate uh at any time uh at the building. And we'll be at the building starting on the 15th. The 15th, Colin mentioned pictures. We will be there for an unofficial opening because they're gonna be shut down. We weren't able to do an official opening, but we'll have an unofficial, if you will, lack of a better term, on the 15th. So this Saturday at 11:30 at the building, and Santa will be there uh with pictures, as Colin mentioned a few minutes ago. And then on the 19th, we'll be there every day. Um, and that will be an official opening. Well, it'll be on the 19th.
SPEAKER_01:Now, one of the things I think we want to specify here, um, you asked for new toys. This is not um, you know, has been played with.
SPEAKER_02:That's been uh oh 10 years, I guess, at this point in time. It's just easier for us to deal with. We don't have the capability to deal with uh anything that uh is already broken in those kind of things. So, yes, we're only dealing in new toys.
SPEAKER_01:Okay, good to know. So if people want to donate a toy, we got plenty of opportunities to get. Are you gonna be able to collect some tomorrow?
SPEAKER_02:We would be able to collect tomorrow on match day. We'll be set up right beside the reviewing stand tomorrow, just as we've done in the past. Okay, and we'll be able to people will be able to donate. Kevin West will be there with his computer for Armed Forces Community Foundation. Donate directly to Opsana or to any of the other 31 30 organizations.
SPEAKER_01:If I get some time, I'm gonna put together. I've got thousands of Hot Wheels that are unopened. So I know you talked about stuck stocking stuffers, and uh, so I'm gonna dig through and and um and bring a whole bunch of those because I I don't want to have to move those. That'd be greatly appreciated, we'll take them all. Anytime, you know, and that's and I and I bet that that's one of the things. I mean, just there's all kinds of ways that you can look to to to try to make this easy for people that want to be able to give and and to be able to do that. Very much so. Okay. How can we find out more about Operation Santa Claus?
SPEAKER_02:Two ways. Uh on the website uh at ops.santa um Fort Riley uh and or our Facebook page. Right now, the Facebook page and the posting is a little harder because we go through the government to do that, and the government is shut down at the moment. So one of the easiest ways at the moment is just go directly to our our website uh at opsanta. Dash Santa. Dash Santa. That's a dot com. Yes, it is dot com. All right, so that's the easiest way at this point in time, albeit you you know the people on post can have seen our flyers all over the place.
SPEAKER_01:Well, see you tomorrow at match day for the Armed Forces Community Foundation, which you'll be positioned right out front. Uh you had said the reviewing stand, which is right out front of uh Manhattan City Hall. Correct. Peace Memorial Auditorium. You get to watch the parade, then you get to go inside, be a part of the ceremony, and uh and uh respect those that have served and and enjoy uh enjoy those that have served. Hopefully they can uh feel a little love in the house.
SPEAKER_02:I think they will. I mean, it's it's a great event.
SPEAKER_01:Colin, hey, thanks, dude.
SPEAKER_02:Thank you for having me.
SPEAKER_01:It's a pleasure. You know, and Phil did all the the bustle work there. Yes, he did. You know, he hires drivers for a reason.
SPEAKER_00:That's right. He doesn't pay me to talk.
SPEAKER_01:Colin Winston is his name. He's an elf with Operation Santa Claus and and uh Phil Maddox, who's the president of it. Uh we uh enjoy the the work that you guys do, and uh good luck with your efforts. Thank you. And it's always a pleasure to be here, Dave. Always, always. Blade Magis is stepping in next. We're gonna learn more about the Wharm Hall project as we continue here with the GMCF Community Hour on News Radio K M A N.