Skip to the content
Home
/
Danella News
/
Danella Christmas Project: Santa’s 2019 Deliveries

Danella Christmas Project: Santa’s 2019 Deliveries

Published on: December 30, 2019

Categories: Christmas Project

In December, the Danella Christmas Project delivered holiday cheer to 500 Philadelphia students.

Since 2004, Danella Companies has sponsored two Philadelphia schools, La Salle Academy in North Philadelphia and John H. Webster Elementary School, in the Kensington neighborhood. Danella’s support helps to bring positive holiday memories to over 500 children in need. The support is only possible with generous donations from our supporters, vendors, friends, and employees through the Danella Christmas project.

LA SALLE ACADEMY

La Salle Academy

Santa and the Danella “Elves” headed to La Salle Academy on December 19, 2019. As is tradition, Santa was welcomed by students in grades three through eight, as the younger grades performed short plays for the group. The morning was spent handing out new gym uniforms, along with a stocking full of snacks for each child. Depending on the grade, they either received winter coats, sweaters, fleece jackets, or sweatshirts for the winter months. The eighth-graders were also surprised by the announcement of a trip to Broadway, which Jim and Mary Jo Danella sponsor.

La Salle, unlike other Catholic Academies in the area, works to provide religious education for low-income families. The children every year are extremely grateful for all that they receive and the work Danella does. In addition to the work during Christmas, Danella supports the La Salle students by providing grocery gift cards, toiletries, and food from two donation drives throughout the year.

WEBSTER ELEMENTARY

IMG 9754

On December 20, Santa again packed up his handy truck and headed to John H. Webster Elementary School. These students live in the Kensington area of Philadelphia and often come from lower-income families. With that in mind, the Christmas Project works to put a smile on their faces as Santa arrives.
Pre-Kindergarten, Kindergarten, First-Grade, Second-Grade, and Emotional Support classrooms received a visit from Santa. Pre-K through first grade received stockings of snacks, backpacks with reading, learning, and coloring materials, hats and gloves, and a squirrel plush toy. Also, each kindergarten student received a board game, and the first graders received a personalized gift from Santa. First-grade students all write a letter to Santa requesting a specific toy, ranging from LOL dolls to remote control cars. The Danella employees located out of our Plymouth Meeting, PA office, then take the letter and generously donate the toy for each student. And not to forget the Second Graders—they also received new chapter reading books, like A to Z Mysteries, The Magic Tree House series, Goosebumps, and many more.

Danella continues to support Webster students throughout the year as we can with grocery store gift cards, school supplies, and more. We strive to help make a positive and successful learning experience possible for these children.

Danella Christmas Project - EmployeesThank you to everyone who contributed once again to the success of the Danella Christmas Project. To the countless individuals, including students from Central Montco Technical School (Plymouth Meeting, PA), thank you for the time you spent wrapping gifts and organizing. A big thank you to our Danella Christmas Project Committee: Cheryl Guffey, Hannah Guffey, Robin Bender, and Andrea Wentzell, who spend countless hours shopping and wrapping gifts each year.

Click here to check out photos from our previous visits to La Salle and Webster.