Christmas Tree Lane Raises Thousands For Children

SAN BERNARDINO>> On Friday, Dec. 2, numerous community leaders gathered together to raise funds for impoverished children through the 64th Annual Friends of Santa Claus, Inc. Christmas Tree Lane event at the National Orange Show Event Center in San Bernardino. Thousands of dollars were raised as participants bid on auction items including many designer-decorated Christmas trees, gift baskets and special offers and items from local businesses. The mission of Santa Claus, Inc. is to provide assistance to children in the Inland Empire by supporting and strengthening the family unit through the community programs. Along with the beautiful Christmas trees that were auctioned off during the gala, some of the items that were put on the auction block included an autographed guitar signed by numerous country singers, a diamond bracelet, a vacation trip to Golden Bear Cottages in Big Bear, patio furniture and more. The gala began with music from Matt Mauser and the Sinatra Big Band, a dinner was served and the auction was hosted by Martha Green, owner of Martha Green's The Eating Room in Redlands, and San Bernardino Lieutenant Rich Lawhead. Before the auction began, Lawhead opened the ceremony and said he was impressed with what he had seen and introduced Joelene Fogg, President of Friends of Santa Claus, Inc. “It’s the support and generosity of all of you that make this event successful and enables us to assist Santa Claus, Inc in proving the very much needed services to underprivileged children and their families in the Inland Empire,” she said to those in attendance. Fogg said the organization spends the entire year to prepare for the December gala and thanked the volunteers who came together to help make it happen. Shelley Burnach, Chairman of the Christmas Tree lane Committee and Board Member of Santa Claus, Inc., thanked all the supporters of the event. Burnach said she was invited to the event 7 years ago and has been hooked ever since. She said she will continue to help because the children in the community need it. "Shelley did a fantastic job in coordinating this event that helps raise so much money for so many children who are in need. Because of these funds, so many children in our local region will have the chance to have a happy Christmas," said Margie Miller, Board Member of Santa Claus, Inc. Karen DiCarlo, Executive Director of Santa Claus, Inc. of more than 30 years, thanked those in attendance for caring on the tradition to raise funds. DiCarlo said last year, SCI served more than 100,000 children, which was more than 500 percent than the 18,000 that were served in 2012. “The expectation, unfortunately, is that the demand for services will remain or grow as local communities adjust to the continuing migration of needy families from other areas in our great state,” DiCarlo said. “Throughout its history, SCI has relied upon its commitment of volunteers and a steadfast vision to bring joy to nearly 1 million children. Santa Claus, Inc. has expanded its services over the last 8 years to include vital year around efforts that provide assistance to impoverished children.” Each year, SCI holds a 7-day distribution to give clothes, toys and necessities to children. “Giving to 15,000 children in 2015, the Christmas distribution is a signature program,” DiCarlo said. “Continuing to flourish and grow, this great program has scheduled about 6,000 families from Colton, Highland, Redlands, Rialto and San Bernardino who will benefit from the 7-day distribution.” Raising funds did not end there as the organization hosted a luncheon and fashion show on Saturday, Dec. 3.