The Salvation Army Angel Tree
Donation protected
The Salvation Army Angel Tree and ABC Action News, Tampa Bay
I have given to charities most of my adult life, simply as a “pay it forward” gesture for all of the help that I received when I was growing up.
No charity has touched me so deeply, however, as The Salvation Army Angel Tree Program during the Christmas holidays. My first experience occurred seven years ago, as shown in the video, when I walked into Tampa’s ABC Action News lobby right before Lissette Campos was going live on her show "Positively Tampa Bay", to solicit the public’s help in adopting the remaining angels before days end so that all of the children, whose names were on the Angel tags, would have something to wake up to on Christmas Day.
As fate would have it, my intentions of adopting one angel quickly grew to having me adopt the remaining 31 angels, thus, voiding the Christmas tree of angels. When Lissette saw what just transpired, she felt compelled to have me on air to thank me for the deed that I had done. I politely declined, saying only that “it wasn’t about me, it was about the kids”.
From that moment seven years ago to this day, I have gone to the lobby at ABC Action News on the last day of The Salvation Army Angel Tree Program and have adopted all remaining angels on the tree. I did this knowing that Lissette would keep her promise and I would only be known as her “Secret Santa”.
Through the years, the number of angels that I have adopted have ranged from 19 to a high of 72 (in 2014) @ $35-100.00 per angel and I have only 24 hours to shop for the items requested and return those gifts to the lobby for pick up. With the help of my family/friends, we have successfully fulfilled the wishes of every angel adopted.
As mentioned above, I have asked to remain anonymous all these years because it’s not about me. I did, however, consent to Lissette’s request and allow her to reveal her “Secret Santa” to the Tampa Bay community once I retire, which will be in December 2015.
With all of this said, I wanted to make The Salvation Army Angel Tree Program of 2015 to be a very special one. I would love to give The Salvation Army, Tampa, through ABC Action News and Lissette Campos, a huge check to be used solely for adopting as many of the 5,000+ angels that are registered in the Tampa area this year as possible.
I am asking my family, friends and anyone who dreams of a needy child waking up on Christmas morning to find a gift with their name on it who otherwise would have nothing, to donate any amount that they choose. Rest assured that your donation is going directly to The Salvation Army Angel Tree Program Tampa, you can even remain anonymous if you wish.
My hope is that I can present this check as a surprise to Lissette when she reveals her “Secret Santa” on her show, “Positively Tampa Bay”, in late December 2015. This is truly a worthy cause that benefits so many families at a time of year that should be filled with joy.
Thank you in advance for your generosity and let’s make this a surprise Lissette, ABC Action News and The Salvation Army Tampa will never forget. ( I will post any updates throughout this venture)
I have given to charities most of my adult life, simply as a “pay it forward” gesture for all of the help that I received when I was growing up.
No charity has touched me so deeply, however, as The Salvation Army Angel Tree Program during the Christmas holidays. My first experience occurred seven years ago, as shown in the video, when I walked into Tampa’s ABC Action News lobby right before Lissette Campos was going live on her show "Positively Tampa Bay", to solicit the public’s help in adopting the remaining angels before days end so that all of the children, whose names were on the Angel tags, would have something to wake up to on Christmas Day.
As fate would have it, my intentions of adopting one angel quickly grew to having me adopt the remaining 31 angels, thus, voiding the Christmas tree of angels. When Lissette saw what just transpired, she felt compelled to have me on air to thank me for the deed that I had done. I politely declined, saying only that “it wasn’t about me, it was about the kids”.
From that moment seven years ago to this day, I have gone to the lobby at ABC Action News on the last day of The Salvation Army Angel Tree Program and have adopted all remaining angels on the tree. I did this knowing that Lissette would keep her promise and I would only be known as her “Secret Santa”.
Through the years, the number of angels that I have adopted have ranged from 19 to a high of 72 (in 2014) @ $35-100.00 per angel and I have only 24 hours to shop for the items requested and return those gifts to the lobby for pick up. With the help of my family/friends, we have successfully fulfilled the wishes of every angel adopted.
As mentioned above, I have asked to remain anonymous all these years because it’s not about me. I did, however, consent to Lissette’s request and allow her to reveal her “Secret Santa” to the Tampa Bay community once I retire, which will be in December 2015.
With all of this said, I wanted to make The Salvation Army Angel Tree Program of 2015 to be a very special one. I would love to give The Salvation Army, Tampa, through ABC Action News and Lissette Campos, a huge check to be used solely for adopting as many of the 5,000+ angels that are registered in the Tampa area this year as possible.
I am asking my family, friends and anyone who dreams of a needy child waking up on Christmas morning to find a gift with their name on it who otherwise would have nothing, to donate any amount that they choose. Rest assured that your donation is going directly to The Salvation Army Angel Tree Program Tampa, you can even remain anonymous if you wish.
My hope is that I can present this check as a surprise to Lissette when she reveals her “Secret Santa” on her show, “Positively Tampa Bay”, in late December 2015. This is truly a worthy cause that benefits so many families at a time of year that should be filled with joy.
Thank you in advance for your generosity and let’s make this a surprise Lissette, ABC Action News and The Salvation Army Tampa will never forget. ( I will post any updates throughout this venture)
Organizer
Mark E Kenney
Organizer
Seffner, FL