ABC15’S “OPERATION SANTA CLAUS” KICKS-OFF NOV. 14

ABC15 viewers can feed a family – make a kid happy and earn a chance to win a new vehicle!

The 19th annual “Operation Santa Claus” holiday charity drive will kick-off Nov. 14 on ABC15, and every person who contributes will have a chance to win a brand-new vehicle.

“Operation Santa Claus” is an Arizona tradition. It’s a partnership between ABC15 and Sanderson Ford to collect food, toys, clothes and monetary donations for Arizona charities.

This year’s charities are: St. Mary’s Food Bank Alliance, Special Olympics Arizona, Southwest Autism Research and Resource Center (SARRC), Military Assistance Mission (MAM) and Chicanos Por La Causa (CPLC).

Operation Santa Claus runs through Dec. 18 and culminates the following day with a “human chain” of volunteers who help deliver all the collected goods to Arizona families in need.

Donation drop-off locations:
• ABC15 Studios – 515 North 44th St. in Phoenix
• Sanderson Ford – 6400 North 51st Ave. in Glendale
• Sanderson Lincoln – 2121 West Bell Rd. in Phoenix
• All of The UPS Store locations across the Valley
• Authorized Operation Santa Claus events listed at givetotheclaus.com

Online donations can also be made anytime throughout the campaign at givetotheclaus.com.

Donors who contribute five dollars or more to Operation Santa Claus will be entered to win a brand- new vehicle. Sanderson Ford and Lincoln will randomly select one lucky donor to win the choice of a new Ford F150 SuperCrew or Lincoln MKZ – luxury sedan. Fifteen finalists will also receive a $100 Visa gift card. The winner will be announced on Dec. 19 during ABC15’s Sonoran Living at 9 a.m.

ABC15 and Sanderson Ford and Lincoln are proud to partner with The UPS Store locations, Walmart, iHeartMedia, Bonneville Media, Hubbard Radio, Entercom Radio, Arizona Diamondbacks, Four Peaks Brewing and Papa Johns Pizza for this year’s drive. Among the many events taking place, Participating Metro Phoenix Walmart stores will be stuffing the sleigh on Nov. 23 from 9 a.m. until 2 p.m. ABC15 and Valley radio stations will be promoting this festive opportunity to give.

ABC15 and Valley radio stations will host a Claus-A-Thon on Dec. 4 to flood the airwaves with the giving spirit. Throughout the day, ABC15 will heavily promote the need for donations on all platforms. ABC15 will have a volunteer-staffed donation phone bank from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m.

“It’s grown every year for the past 19 years and I’m so proud of our employees and partners working together towards the goal of hitting the one- million- dollar mark for the fifth year in a row said David Kimmerle, president of Sanderson Ford and Sanderson Lincoln. “We need to do it again. Hundreds of families throughout the Valley are counting on us. I really believe the community can and will come together to raise the bar one more time.”

“The holidays are such a special time of year and we want to give everyone a chance to enjoy them,” said Anita Helt, vice-president and general manager at ABC15. “ABC15 is proud to be part of a community project that consistently takes action to help our neighbors in need. We could not do this without our partners who willingly dig deep every year and give.”

For more information go to givetotheclaus.com.