FAQ
Volunteering
Does Santa have helpers and who provides them?Do Santa's helpers wear costumes?If Santa's helpers do not wear a costume, what is appropriate attire?What are the requirements of Santa's helpers?How do I get involved?What if I am interested in becomign a Santa?
Fund Raising
Is my donation deductible?What percentage of donations go to the program?How does Santa's Gift fund its program?Does Santa's Gift have any fund raisers?How do I make a donation?
Becoming Santa
Who provides the Santa suit?Who maintains the Santa suits?What if a Santa needs to cancel a hospital visit due to illness, inclimate weather, etc.?What accessories are provided with the Santa suit?Do I need to look like Santa to be one?What kind of training is required to be Santa for Santa's Gift?What is the financial commitment to be Santa for Santa's Gift?When are the visits scheduled at the hospitals?How do you select your Santas?I already have my own Santa suit, I wouldn't need another Santa suit.
Having Santa Visit Our Hospital
What if a Santa needs to cancel a hospital visit due to illness, inclimate weather, etc.?Does Santa have helpers and who provides them?What are the requirements of Santa's helpers?Does Santa's Gift carry insurance?What does a Santa's Gift visit consist of?Can Santa's helpers take ther own pictures?Does Santa give a teddy bear and picture to all of the children he sees?What if a child is afraid of Santa?What if a parent is insistent on having a frightened child take a picture with Santa?Does a child have to take a picture with Santa in order to get a bear?What if a family does not believe in Santa for any reason?How do you select what cities and hospitals you visit?Our hospital already has a long standing Santa visit. Is that a problem?
General
What does a Santa's Gift visit consist of?Who provides the teddy bears?The 'I Am Loved' on the sweater looks familiar. Where does that come from?Who provides the instant film and camera?I like the Santa on the front of the photo keepers, where did it come from?Can a family of a child use their own camera to take a picture of Santa?Can I buy one of the teddy bears?If a parent or patient get emotional during a visit, how does Santa handle the situation?Do you plan on adding more Santas?Are there any Mrs. Claues'?I really like the suit that Santa wears, how can I get one?What make Santa's Gift different from other Santa organizations?How many Santas do you have?
Volunteering
Q: Does Santa have helpers and who provides them?
A: Though it is possible to do a visit with only the help of hospital staff, volunteers are highly encouraged. The size of the hospital determines the number of volunteers that are needed. In larger hospitals there are sometimes a morning group of volunteers and an afternoon group. Typically if there is a sponsoring company for a particular hospital, they will provide the volunteers. If there is not a sponsoring company, the volunteers are provided by Santa.
Santa's Gift will provide guidance in arranging volunteers. It has never been a problem finding enough volunteers for any of our Santa visits.
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Q: Do Santa's helpers wear costumes?
A: Costumes for Santa's helpers are not provided or required, but encouraged. Costumes can be as simple as a Santa or Elf hat to a full Elf costume.
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Q: If Santa's helpers do not wear a costume, what is appropriate attire?
A: A hospital visit can be as long at seven to eight hours depending upon the size of the hospital. With that in mind, it is important to be comfortable during the visit. You will be on your feet most of the time, usually on linoleum or concrete floors so good shoes are most important. Hospitals are also typically kept warmer that what most people are used to, so it is suggested that you do not wear heavy clothing. Jeans and tennis shoes are acceptable. A casual dress or festive shirt is fine.
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Q: What are the requirements of Santa's helpers?
A: All volunteers including Santa must pass a background check annually. They also will be on their feet or standing for hours at a time. Like Santa, they must not volunteer if they are sick or just recovering from a recent illness. It is more important to protect the health of the children than participating in the program.
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Q: How do I get involved?
A: Start by filling out the form on the
Volunteer page listed under the
About Santa's Gift banner on the home page. Someone from
Santa's Gift will contact you to discuss your level of interest. All volunteers including Santa receive an annual background check.
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Q: What if I am interested in becomign a Santa?
A: Start by filling out the form on the
Volunteer page listed under the
About Santa's Gift banner on the home page. Someone from
Santa's Gift will contact you to discuss your level of interest. All volunteers including Santa receive an annual background check.
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Fund Raising
Q: Is my donation deductible?
A: Yes.
Santa's Gift is a 501(c)3 tax exempt organization.
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Q: What percentage of donations go to the program?
A: 100%
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Q: How does Santa's Gift fund its program?
A:
Santa's Gift is funded by various means, but mainly through corporate and private donations. As
Santa's Gift's donations increase so does the size of the program.
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Q: Does Santa's Gift have any fund raisers?
A: Yes. If you are interested in hosting or supporting a fund raiser, please go to the
Volunteer page listed under the
About Santa's Gift banner on the home page. Someone from
Santa's Gift will contact you to discuss your level of interest.
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Q: How do I make a donation?
A: Click on the donate button at the top of the home page or on the right side of many of the other pages. Donations can either be made through PayPal or can be mailed directly to
Santa's Gift. The Check can be made out to
Santa's Gift. Our address is 1212 S Naper Blvd., Suite 119-348, Naperville, IL 60540.
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Becoming Santa
Q: Who provides the Santa suit?
A: Each suit is costume made for the Santa at the expense of
Santa.s Gift. Santa's Gift also provides all the basic accessories. The suit remains the property of
Santa's Gift. but the accessories belong tot he individual Santa.
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Q: Who maintains the Santa suits?
A: At
Santa's Gift's expense, each suit is shipped back tot he North Pole where it is professionally cleaned and stored until the next holiday season.
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Q: What if a Santa needs to cancel a hospital visit due to illness, inclimate weather, etc.?
A: Santa should never visit a hospital while ill or having just recovered from illness within the last twenty-four hours! If for any reason Santa may need to cancel a visit or reschedule, Santa will contact the North Pole and the hospital to make them aware of the situation. The options will be assessed at that time.
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Q: What accessories are provided with the Santa suit?
A:
Santa's Gift will provide a belly pad, wigs, belt and boots to each new Santa.
Santa's Gift will also reimburse for fine tune tailoring of the suit. Additional items suggested but not required like suspenders, reading glasses and white make-up for eyebrows are purchased by the individual Santa.
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Q: Do I need to look like Santa to be one?
A: No more than the actor Tim Allen did in the
Santa Claus movie series.
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Q: What kind of training is required to be Santa for Santa's Gift?
A: At this time,
Santa's Gift hosts an annual training session in the Chicago area. If you are selected as a possible Santa, and you are coming from out of town,
Santa's Gift will purchase a plane ticket on your behalf. While you are here in Chicago for training,
Santa's Gift will pay for all ground transportation, meals and hotel stay, if we can not get you in and out in the same day.
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Q: What is the financial commitment to be Santa for Santa's Gift?
A: Although we appreciate any and all contributions, Santa is a volunteer position. Santa's Gift provides a custom Santa suit, belt, wigs, boots and belly pad. You will be responsible for providing your own transportation to and from the hospital visit. Any approved improvements that you wish to make to your costume, like suspenders, glasses, glue on mustaches, etc. are encouraged, but are done so at your own expense.
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Q: When are the visits scheduled at the hospitals?
A: All visits are typically done in the month of December. The staff you will be working with usually work Monday thru Friday, so your visit will normally be during the work week. As to what particular day the visit is schedule depends on the Santa. Each Santa coordinates their own visits.
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Q: How do you select your Santas?
A: Our Santa's come from all walks of life. One Santa is in sales, another is an lawyer and another is the CEO of his own company.
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Q: I already have my own Santa suit, I wouldn't need another Santa suit.
A: All of our Santa's wear the same suit. This ensures that there is consistency in our program in all of our hospitals. We are sure the suit you have is a nice suit, but we desire a standard look for our Santa's.
Santa's Gift is sure you will not be disappointed with the quality of the suit we provide you.
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Having Santa Visit Our Hospital
Q: What if a Santa needs to cancel a hospital visit due to illness, inclimate weather, etc.?
A: Santa should never visit a hospital while ill or having just recovered from illness within the last twenty-four hours! If for any reason Santa may need to cancel a visit or reschedule, Santa will contact the North Pole and the hospital to make them aware of the situation. The options will be assessed at that time.
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Q: Does Santa have helpers and who provides them?
A: Though it is possible to do a visit with only the help of hospital staff, volunteers are highly encouraged. The size of the hospital determines the number of volunteers that are needed. In larger hospitals there are sometimes a morning group of volunteers and an afternoon group. Typically if there is a sponsoring company for a particular hospital, they will provide the volunteers. If there is not a sponsoring company, the volunteers are provided by Santa.
Santa's Gift will provide guidance in arranging volunteers. It has never been a problem finding enough volunteers for any of our Santa visits.
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Q: What are the requirements of Santa's helpers?
A: All volunteers including Santa must pass a background check annually. They also will be on their feet or standing for hours at a time. Like Santa, they must not volunteer if they are sick or just recovering from a recent illness. It is more important to protect the health of the children than participating in the program.
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Q: Does Santa's Gift carry insurance?
A: Santa's Gift carries liability insurance that provides coverage for our Santas and the volunteers during the hospital visits.
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Q: What does a Santa's Gift visit consist of?
A: After the date and time of a visit are arranged, Santa arrives at the hospital with his helpers. The bears are almost always sent ahead of the visit. Santa arrives with the instant camera, film and photo keepers with him. Santa and his volunteer are escorted through the visit by hospital staff. Each child Santa sees is given a uniquely made custom teddy bear an instant photo that is put in a custom photo keeper and also given to the child.
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Q: Can Santa's helpers take ther own pictures?
A: Only of themselves and Santa. HIPPA laws do not allow us to take permanent pictures of any patients with out their written consent to do so. We will from time to time take digital pictures of patients with Santa but only after first arranging it with the hospital and securing a release form to do so. If the hospital does not want or allow digital pictures to be taken even with releases, then we will abide by their rules.
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Q: Does Santa give a teddy bear and picture to all of the children he sees?
A: Yes. Santa will give a teddy bear and try to take a picture with all of the children he sees, even if they are just walking down the hallway to visit someone. Though Santa brings extra bears in anticipation of these visits,
Santa's Gift cannot provide bears for other family members that are not present at the time of the visit.
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Q: What if a child is afraid of Santa?
A: Santa is experienced at working with frightened children. Santa will assess the situation and attempt to apply his skills to capture a pleasant picture of Santa with the child. This may even include the parent holding the child and then the parent sitting on Santa's lap. If Santa determines that a pleasant picture is not possible he will just leave a bear. Though Santa will attempt to encourage the child to take a picture with Santa we wish this encounter to be a positive one and will never force the situation.
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Q: What if a parent is insistent on having a frightened child take a picture with Santa?
A: Santa will let the parent know that it is not best to try and do so and will refuse to take a picture with the child. If the parent continues, Santa will look to the hospital staff present to handle the situation.
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Q: Does a child have to take a picture with Santa in order to get a bear?
A: No. We sometime encounter frightened children, so we will just offer a bear in these situations.
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Q: What if a family does not believe in Santa for any reason?
A: Santa is always accompanied by hospital staff who always try to ask patients and famalies fo tehy would like a visit from Santa. Even if they do not want a visit, we still offer them a teddy bear if they would liek one.
Santa's Gift is not a faith based organization. We are only interested in lifting the spirits of children during our visits. We will always respect the wishes of the famalies we attempt to visit.
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Q: How do you select what cities and hospitals you visit?
A: The cities are selected based upon two things. Most importantly we need to have a Santa in the area that can service the targeted city. We also need to have a funding source to pay for the hospital visit. Once we have these in place, we start contacting the hospitals in the area that have a pediatric wing. We works with that hospitals staff to educate them about our program and offer them our services.
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Q: Our hospital already has a long standing Santa visit. Is that a problem?
A: No. Most of our hospitals have other Santa's visiting during the holiday season. Since the average hospital stay for children in a hospital is two to three days, we only prefer to schedule our visits farther apart than that from other Santa's. This helps to keep the spirit of Santa alive.
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General
Q: What does a Santa's Gift visit consist of?
A: After the date and time of a visit are arranged, Santa arrives at the hospital with his helpers. The bears are almost always sent ahead of the visit. Santa arrives with the instant camera, film and photo keepers with him. Santa and his volunteer are escorted through the visit by hospital staff. Each child Santa sees is given a uniquely made custom teddy bear an instant photo that is put in a custom photo keeper and also given to the child.
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Q: Who provides the teddy bears?
A: The teddy bears are designed by
Santa's Gift and are unique each year.
Santa's Gift tries to make sure that the bears are hazard free and safe for all ages.
Santa's Gift requires that all bears are individually wrapped at the manufacturer.
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Q: The 'I Am Loved' on the sweater looks familiar. Where does that come from?
A: The
I Am Loved is a registered trademark of Helzberg Diamonds. Helzberg Diamonds is a long time supporter of
Santa's Gift.
Santa's Gift is able to use this trademark with the approval of Helxberg Diamonds.
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Q: Who provides the instant film and camera?
A: The instant film and camera are provided by
Santa's Gift.
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Q: I like the Santa on the front of the photo keepers, where did it come from?
A: The Santa that is on the front of our photo keepers is a design by artist, Marla Shega. Marla allows Santa's gift to use this image on our photo keepers. To view this image and others that are available from Marla, visit her website at
www.marlaspalette.com. Just cut and paste this address into your browser to be linked to Marla's website.
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Q: Can a family of a child use their own camera to take a picture of Santa?
A: Of course! Santa encourages families to take their own pictures as well during our visits. Santa will take extra time to pose for a few additional pictures whenever time allows.
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Q: Can I buy one of the teddy bears?
A: At this time,
Santa's Gift has a limited quantity of bears produced annually for that years scheduled Santa visits. There are no plans to increase production to accommodate a quantity for retail? If there is a higher demand in the future,
Santa's Gift will consider making a limited quantity available.
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Q: If a parent or patient get emotional during a visit, how does Santa handle the situation?
A: Santa will spend as much time as necessary with the family to try and bring comfort to the child and family. This can include just sitting there and listening to them to offering a positive word of encouragement to providing a genuine hug and a shoulder to cry on.
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Q: Do you plan on adding more Santas?
A: Yes. As we add more hospitals we are always looking for more Santas. If you are interested in becoming a Santa go to the
Volunteer page listed under the
About Santa's Gift banner on the home page. Someone from
Santa's Gift will contact you to discuss your level of interest.
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Q: Are there any Mrs. Claues'?
A: Yes. At this time we have one Mrs. Claus that accompanies one of our Santas on his visits. We would encourage any interested Mrs. Clauses that would like to do their won hospital to contact us.
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Q: I really like the suit that Santa wears, how can I get one?
A: You will need to contact the Kansas City costume company and make your own arrangements.
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Q: What make Santa's Gift different from other Santa organizations?
A:
Santa's Gift strives to be the gold standard from which all other Santa programs that visit children in hospitals are measured. From the quality of our custom made Santa suits, to the attention in detail of the teddy bears and photo keepers,
Santa's Gift is focused in providing a few minutes of joy for a child who is in the hospital during the holidays.
Since it's conception over fifteen years ago,
Santa's Gift has continually worked on improving our program. We strive to offer a consistent and rewarding experience for all of the children we see. We get many compliments from the hospitals that we visit as their satisfaction with our program.
Santa's Gift provides holiday hope for hospitalized children.
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Q: How many Santas do you have?
A: The number of Santas grows annually. Most of our Santa's only visit one hospital with several more visiting multiple locations throughout the holiday season.
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