Hillside Strong: Stories of Hillside
“It’s spreading joy”: The Special Santa program evokes feelings of generosity and holiday spirit for all who take part. Shannon Davis, a Hillside Transition Coordinator, recalls the first time she participated, 37 years ago: “There was no place to house the gifts we collected, so I brought them all to my apartment and we had a wrapping party with staff.”
Jordan Major and his mother were both served by Hillside programs when they were children, and for him, Special Santa is a seasonal way to give back. “I will make sure that it’s the best morning that they have,” he says of the children served by Hillside who will receive the gifts donated through the program. “It’s one of the beautiful things.”
Business owner Jenna Miles is among the countless business and individual donors who contribute their time and treasure to this annual tradition. “It’s about making kids feel seen, their wants being acknowledged, through something as simple as a gift.” Special Santa, she says, is about “spreading joy.”
Stronger Futures Together: How You Can Help
The successes behind these Stories of Hillside are the result of partnerships—among youth, families and staff; community partners committing time, expertise and resources; and donors whose support empowers key programs and drives our innovation. Your support for our work can take many forms, and will help countless young people and adults achieve the stronger futures they deserve.
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The need for stable, loving foster homes has never been greater. Hillside provides training and support to ensure your success.
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As a member of the Hillside team, you’ll advance your career while making a difference every day.
Donate to Hillside
Your generosity ensures the strength of our programs today, and helps us reach more youth, adults and families tomorrow.
About the Hillside Special Santa Program
Each year for five decades, Hillside employees and corporate and individual donors have come together in a holiday mission: to provide youth and families served by the agency with toys and gifts that, in some cases, may be the only presents they receive. Special Santa depends on the generosity of the communities served by Hillside to donate funds that will be used to purchase gifts that brighten the holidays of thousands of children in our programs.
Last year alone, Special Santa enabled nearly 8,000 gifts to be shared with more than 3,500 youth and families served by Hillside—what President & CEO Maria Cristalli calls “a shared act of community kindness.”
LEARN MORE
- Visit the Special Santa page to find out how you can be a part of this year’s Special Santa program—by donating online; shopping locally and bringing gifts to a nearby donation box; or arranging your own fundraiser to encourage your coworkers, family and friends to participate.
- Read about the kickoff of the 2025 program, including comments from Maria Cristalli and Vince Lecce, Rochester Market President of KeyBank, Special Santa’s Presenting Sponsor for this season.
- In a previous Hillside “Conversations with the CEO” podcast, President & CEO Maria Cristalli sat down with Shannon Davis and Lilac Inthavong-McEvoy to discuss the program’s history and enduring impact. Click here to visit Hillside’s podcast series, and hear the Special Santa conversation.