UNITING the CommUNITY…for the Children!
By David Triana
“Be always at war with your vices, at peace with your neighbors,
Benjamin Franklin
and let each year find you a better man.”
United for a Good Cause Inc. hosted their two annual Christmas Charity events this past December. The 18th Annual “Emerald Coast Christmas Miracle Fiesta” took place on 18 December and then was followed by the 10th Annual “Santa’s 4-County Sleigh Run” on 23 December.
These two charity signature events have become hugely popular and were a huge success again this year by serving over 1,800 children and families from throughout the region.
For the first time since the pandemic, the Fiesta returned to its original concept of a family friendly party filled with musical entertainment, dance and singing contests for brand new bikes and wholesome Christmas activities throughout the day.
The Fiesta’s primary objective of “Uniting the CommUNITY…for the Children” was definitely met via the generous monetary and in-kind services contributions of numerous corporate sponsors and company and individual donations of money and toys. The event also included the participation of 11 non-profit organizations and socially conscious companies that set up fun activity tables for the children to enjoy!
During the Santa Run, organization volunteers ensured that the families that could not attend the Fiesta, or those that called late, were still able to be served as their volunteers traveled to cities including Milton, Pensacola, Crestview, Defuniak Springs, and several towns in the vicinity of Fort Walton Beach to deliver toys, presents, bikes and Christmas cheer!
For the 4th year in a row, Harry T’s, via the Emerald Coast Toys for Tots, donated close to 100 bikes that the organization gave to children in the area as well as to other non-profit organizations that had late needs to serve financially challenged families.
The organization’s leadership thanks the dozens of volunteers who helped days prior to the event with wrapping the over 1,000 toys, as well as those that helped set up the facilities at the NWF Fairgrounds that were used for the event.
United for a Good Cause Inc. is a 501c3 non-profit charitable organization that also hosts a YOUth LEADership Conference (Oct 2023) and is the lead organization helping implement the Hope Squad Peer to Peer Teen Suicide Prevention Program into the region’s public schools.
For more information on the organization or to volunteer with it, go to: unitedforagoodcause.org
