UPLAND, Calif. – On Saturday, December 14, the Colonies Partners will sponsor the 12th Annual Colonies Holiday Miracles event at the Colonies Crossroads shopping center in Upland. Event organizers estimate a crowd of nearly 1000 that will include children, families, safety personnel, and volunteers. More than 200 children, from low-income families, will participate in a Christmas event that includes a Santa breakfast, participation by State of California Treasurer Fiona Ma and celebrity appearance by Dodger Manager, Tommy Lasorda, a shopping spree with law enforcement volunteers, strolling carolers, and pictures with Santa who will dramatically arrive via a San Bernardino County Fire Department’s Ladder Truck. A highlight of the morning is the car give away of a new 2019 Chevy Spark that will be awarded to a family in need courtesy of Shirley Leggio and the Mark Christopher Auto Center.
The event benefits children from the nonprofit organizations Hope Through Housing Foundation, Children’s Hope, Children’s Fund, House of Ruth, Eagles Wings, Purple Hearts, Scheu Family YMCA of Upland, Upland Unified School District Health Start Program, OPARC, Foothill Family Shelter, Pacific Lifeline and LeRoy Haynes Family Programs. The children were selected based on family need and income. Each child will receive a $200 shopping spree for clothing and toys as well as full holiday dinner from Albertsons, located in the Colonies shopping center. The shopping sprees were donated by the Colonies Partners and Newport Beach-based Pacific Development Group (Colonies Pacific) with a major sponsorship generously donated by the John Previti Memorial Fund. Colonies sponsors the Colonies Holiday Miracles to bring attention to the need for businesses to reach out and support local charities during the holiday season. The event includes an ongoing Spark of Love toy drive, sponsored by the San Bernardino County Fire Department, at the shopping center.
Kohl’s Department Store, Target and Dicks Sporting Goods, tenants of Colonies Crossroads, offered deep discounts so the $200 debit cards will go further in purchasing items. The San Bernardino County Inland Firefighters and The Heights Restaurant are the main sponsors of the Santa breakfast to be served that morning. Colonies based Chick-Fil-A, El Pollo Loco and The Webb Family Foundation McDonalds are the main sponsors of the Santa lunch.
“This is our 12th year sponsoring the Colonies Holiday Miracles event,” said Colonies partner, Jeff Burum. “It is an example of how local businesses can support charities that serve our community as well as support the local economy. Colonies Partners hope that other retail centers will view this as a model for charitable giving during the holiday season.”
The event goes far in providing necessities for the families as well as holiday cheer. Many of the children that participate come from homes where even necessities are difficult to provide.