Santa Claus, Inc. Breaks All Service Records in 2015

Santa Claus, Inc. of Greater San Bernardino (SCI) broke all service records in 2015! Final numbers pending, SCI is proud to announce it served a total of 100,707 San Bernardino children! This is nearly another 100% increase in one year. SCI’s Holiday distribution served 43,118 while A Community Cares, SCI’s year-round collection of programs, served an additional 57,589. These numbers were not surprising, since the need in the community has reached epic levels. Continued migration of poor or unemployed families has placed demands on most local social services including Santa Claus, Inc. “There certainly was an expectation of possibly doubling our service numbers,” noted Karen DiCarlo, SCI’s Executive Director. “We see the need every day and that is why SCI is working hard to bring services to needy children any time of the year.” Santa Claus, Inc. had a very busy year. The installation of a new office building, proceeds of a San Manuel grant as well SCI’s first direct consumer outreach, Head 2 Toe, helped make it a fun year as well. The launch of All My Own and Project StepUp enhanced SCI’s menu of services, working with foster children at Loma Linda University Children’s Hospital and with homeless families with the San Bernardino Police Department and San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department Project HOPE. And there is more to come. Santa Claus is assessing its community needs and finding new, innovative ways to reach the needy children of San Bernardino. The generosity of Santa Claus, Inc’s sponsors, donors and thousands upon thousands of volunteer hours, made SCI the 2015 Nonprofit Agency of the Year and boosted it up to #1 on Great Nonprofit.org for 2015. Among other awards, Karen DiCarlo, Executive Director received Cal State San Bernardino’s Spirit of the Entrepreneur Social Award, a wonderful nod to SCI’s progress and growth. SCI has also committed to operational transparency and met the highest standards on GuideStar and Charity Navigator, the top two nonprofit ranking sites. After nearly 64 years, SCI has set its own standards on continuity, the true gift of volunteering, and giving to those that need the most. SCI thanks all of its core and extended volunteers, as well as its loyal sponsors for always thinking about San Bernardino’s children.