Recently, Santa Claus Inc., serving the Greater San Bernardino County region, partnered with the San Bernardino Sunset Rotary Club. According to Karen DiCarlo, the Executive Director of Santa Claus Inc., “At Santa Claus Inc., we continue to say Y.E.S. we do, we will, and we can! The 27,000 pairs of donated BOBS Skecher shoes were provided to our Youth Enrichment Services (Y.E.S.) year-round programs from Kids in Distressed Situations/Fashion Delivers in New York. Y.E.S. provides charitable basic needs distributions that meet the needs of over 85,000 children living in poverty throughout the Greater San Bernardino County region. Santa Claus Inc. has many partnerships in a variety of social service and community sectors that are important to supporting Y.E.S. program distributions – we can’t do this without community and financial support.”
According to Mr. Shab El Awar, Rotary District 5330 Past District Governor, “The BOBS by Skecher shoes will fill a critical need for the 27,000 children – these are children that are living in extreme poverty. Without the donation from Santa Claus Inc., many children throughout the Inland Empire would continue to struggle in the absence of basic needs being met. An estimated value of the shoes is set at approximately $350,730. However, the value of the pure joy on a child’s face when they get a new pair of shoes is priceless – they stand a little taller. In my opinion, Rotary’s partnership in this project is a perfect marriage. All Rotary Clubs within District 5330 (Inland Empire) work directly to provide support to programs that help to improve the quality of life for youth and families in need - both locally and internationally.”
SCI has been serving the Inland Empire for 65 years – helping impoverished children. SCI’s Youth Enrichment Services charitable distribution meets the year-round needs of the communities' most vulnerable people – children living in poverty. Each year 100,000 children are served from the distribution warehouse in San Bernardino. Tracylyn Sharrit, Director of Development for Santa Claus Inc., is a 15-year member of Rotary. She envisioned the partnership as one that would expedite the shoe distribution by partnering with more than 60 Rotary Clubs within Rotary District 5330. Santa Claus Inc. worked with the local San Bernardino Sunset Rotary Club to directly distribute the shoes. On June 17th, San Bernardino Sunset Rotary Club is providing a day of service at the SCI warehouse to give additional support – volunteers are always needed and appreciated at Santa Claus Inc.
To learn more about or how to donate or directly volunteer to help SCI and their Y.E.S. programs, please contact Santa Claus Inc. at 909-885-0090. Additionally, you can choose to donate online at www.SantaClausInc.com. To follow the successes and stories of Santa Claus Inc. and Y.E.S. services, Like them on Facebook at Facebook.com/santaclausincorporated, on Instagram at #SantaHeartstheIE, and on Twitter @Santaclaus_Inc.