Hilton Displays' 8th Annual Operation Santa SC
Operation Santa SC is a non-profit dedicated to providing necessities to children within the Greenville County Elementary School Title I system who may not receive gifts during the holiday season. Operation Santa relies on businesses and individuals to help sponsor children and provide essential items, such as shirts, pants, underwear, socks, pajamas, one “wish list” item, as well as one educational item.
Operation Santa was founded in 2000 when John Sheppard, elementary principle, saw a need to help provide for students in his Title I school that were less fortunate. He and his wife, Kathy, shopped for two students and gave the gifts to the students and their families. In 2002, Kathy, who was the Director of Community Relations of The Cliffs Communities in Greenville, asked The Cliffs to sponsor 200 children. Due to economic challenges, The Cliffs stopped sponsoring the children in 2010. In 2011, Kathy recruited family, friends, and acquaintances to support the students from Greenville County Title I schools. From 2011 to 2020, Operation Santa went from sponsoring 70 kids to 800.
This year was Hilton Displays’ 8th year participating in Operation Santa. With the help and generous contributions of 35 employees, we were able to sponsor five boys and two girls from Greenville Title I schools whose ages range from 6 to 11-years-old. Project Manager, Kaylee Richardson said, “I love participating in Operation Santa. I have participated every year since I began working at Hilton Displays. It is so much fun shopping for kids who don't get much for Christmas. Helping families in need is a great way to give back and makes my heart happy.” Senior Project Manager, Chris Grubbs, said his favorite part of Operation Santa was “helping Hilton Displays with projects that serve the community.”
Several employees, including Kaylee and Chris, stayed after hours to wrap the donated presents. The following day all the gifts were delivered to Greenville Century BMW for storage until delivery to each of the designated Title I elementary schools the second week in December. Hilton Displays applauds the enormous dedication, coordination, and sheer hard work Operation Santa has completed over the years for the children in the Greenville community. Hilton Displays has been a collaborative partner with Operation Santa and will continue to partner with the organization in the many years to come.
Happy Holidays from our Hilton Displays family to yours.
