INCEPTION
As night fell on Christmas Eve 1976, San Antonio police officer, Tom Preston and his fellow officers began what would become another warm tradition of giving in our city. Preston knew of several families who could not afford toys under their tree. That is, if they had a tree at all.
CHARITY BEGINS
With their own money, they purchased and distributed toys to underprivileged boys and girls who would not soon forget the day a police officer became their personal Santa. Years later, as the project drew the interest of more and more officers, someone suggested that Preston dress up as Santa himself. A navy outfit was tailored and San Antonio’s Blue Santa was born!
BLUE SANTA ESTABLISHED
It didn’t take long for the department and city to sanction Blue Santa as an official yearly program and today, the SAPD Blue Santa Program serves as many as 8,000 needy families a year in the San Antonio area. What has become a massive “labor of love” does not happen overnight. As you read this, many corporate citizens are generously donating their resources to ensure another successful season of giving.
MORE CONTRIBUTION
Socially responsible companies like Bill Miller Restaurants and Port San Antonio provide much needed warehouse facilities. Toys are collected year round, then transported in PODS (also, donated) to be wrapped and distributed its a coordinated effort with other projects, like Elf Louise, to prevent duplication.
MORE FAMILIES AND COMPANY JOINED
In the early days, only a handful of families participated in the program; now, companies, large and small, hold fundraisers that bring in tens of thousands of dollars every year, allowing for thousands of families to benefit from our generous community.
GOING LARGE
What began as a small wave of compassion by Officer Preston and his buddies over 41 years ago, has become an ocean of giving that has brought smiles to countless children and is a source of heartfelt goodwill from San Antonio’s men and women in blue. For all involved, it’s the color of Christmas.