Santa and Donors Fulfill Holiday Wishes for Hillsides Children and Families

PASADENA, CA, December 22, 2011 (Press-News.org) With help from Santa Clause and donors, Hillsides, a Pasadena children's charity, hosted its annual Hillsides Christmas for children living at its campus prior to some of them going on home visits for the holidays. Bringing holiday cheer throughout the campus, Santa Claus and his elves made an early visit to children living at the residential treatment facility.

"The holidays are really special times for the children living at Hillsides," said Hillsides Chief Executive Officer Joseph M. Costa. "We create traditions that are memorable and restore hope during a time that reminds them of their families. With the help of our donor community, we are able to fulfill special wishes not just for our children, but for the families that we serve as well."

Children gathered in the morning to enjoy a catered breakfast and participate in the traditional sing-along of holiday songs led by Hillsides Chief Executive Officer Joseph M. Costa. While the children were singing songs, Santa's helpers distributed the donated gifts that were on children's wish lists and were delivered to their respective cottages.

Eagerly awaiting the distribution of gifts from Santa, children quickly ripped open the gift wrapping to unveil their new gifts. Smiling and overjoyed with their special wishes, children captured the attention of any adult present to show them their new gifts.

Some companies that helped during the holidays included: Venerable Chiropractic Clinics and Family Chiropractic, Baxter Bioscience, Bellisima Salon and Day Spa, Parkway Grill, Arroyo Chop House, Cafe 140 South, Pilgrim Tower East, Briggs and Associates, APS LPC, Laughlin, Falbo, Levy & Moresi, Rusnak Auto Group, Starbucks, Western Asset Management, Tokio Marine Management, Northrop Grumman, CPCU, San Gabriel Chapter, Kaiser Permanente, Citizens Bank, Curves on Green, Parsons, Forensis Group, Giroux and Associates, x•tapa Restaurant, Bar Celona, and Villa SORRISO.

Nearly a hundred families also participated in the holiday adopt-a-family program. Family members received special wishes, a week's worth of groceries. Additional companies that joined individuals in adopting families included: Collins, Collins, Muir & Stewart Law Firm in South Pasadena, Coldwell Banker , South Coast AQMD - Laboratory Services in Diamond Bar, Premier Healthcare Services, Arch Insurance, Kate| Yoga in Monrovia, The Station Bar in Arcadia and Bank of America.

To learn more about the children's charity, visit http://www.Hillsides.org or to sponsor winter outings during the children's holiday break, contact Brittany Berryman, assistant director to community resources at 323-254-2274 ext. 258.

As a Pasadena charity founded in 1913, Hillsides creates safe places for children in foster care living in its residential treatment center and is a community treatment center preventing the cycle of abuse for children at risk and their families. To learn more about Hillsides, visit http://www.Hillsides.org.