Despite a year of hardship, Pasadena Community Foundation was able for the 26th consecutive year to bring the magic of Christmas to a number of area charitable organizations, thanks to grants from its Yes, Virginia Fund.
In 1897, New York Sun editor Frank Church responded to 8-year-old Virginia O’Hanlon, who wrote to the newspaper to ask, “Is there a Santa Claus?” More than a century later, the reply remains the most reprinted editorial ever to run in any newspaper in the United States. In 1994, the story inspired PCF supporters to establish the Yes, Virginia Fund to provide annual grants to local nonprofit agencies so that Pasadena-area children in need could receive toys, books, gifts and special experiences for the holidays.
In 2019, after 25 years of dedicated fundraising and community support, the Yes, Virginia Fund reached its endowment goal of $500,000, ensuring that it will continue to support holiday grants to local nonprofit agencies every year for decades to come.
2020 is ending with even more uncertainty and hardship for clients of social service agencies. Many are employed in the service sector, which has been disproportionately impacted by Safer at Home closures. The threat that the rent eviction moratorium will soon be lifted has created anxiety for those desperate to stay in their homes. With more members at home, families struggle to stretch food until the end of the month. Honoring Virginia’s storied hope and maintaining the magic of Santa continued to be an important goal for staff members at charitable organizations. PCF’s Yes, Virginia grants helped make that happen at 11 local sites.
“There were gasps of surprise and relief from parents and squeals from the kids,” Katerjian said. “For our staff, to be able to help struggling parents who are yearning to make holidays special for their kids is priceless.”
At Elizabeth House, Santa arrived in a Cadillac convertible and supervised the delivery of festive bags filled with toys and books to 50 families arriving by car, funded in part by the Yes, Virginia grant. Alumni and current clients also received $100 grocery cards, and each child received a $25 Target card. For Debora Unruh, the day meant finally seeing families in person, though from a distance, and she treasured that experience.
PCF has voiced gratitude for the Pasadena community’s longtime support of this grant program. Donations are still welcome and will help the Yes, Virginia Endowment grow and provide holiday magic for years to come. For information, visit pasadenacf.org/funds/yes-virginia-fund.
The 2020 grantees: Boys & Girls Club of Pasadena, Community Health Alliance of Pasadena, Door of Hope, Elizabeth House, Families Forward Learning Center, Flintridge Center, Impact House, Pasadena Altadena Community Endowment Fund — the LINKS, Pasadena Altadena Coalition of Transformative Leaders, Professional Child Development Associates and Treasure Little Children Foundation.