Op Santa on the GMCF Community Hour Show Episode - 256

We mark Veterans Day with a clear plan to support Fort Riley families and open the doors of Operation Santa Claus. Phil and Colin share how volunteers, donors, and soldiers create a seamless holiday experience built on dignity, choice, and community.

• Veterans Day breakfast, parade, and ceremony details 
• Armed Forces Community Foundation Match Day and giving options 
• Fort Riley’s economic footprint and why need is rising 
• Operation Santa Claus mission and eligibility at E5 and below 
• What each child receives: toys, book, stocking, game 
• Role of volunteers: fundraising, decorating, wrapping, guiding parents 
• New toy policy and reasons for quality control 
• Drop-off times, unofficial photo day, official opening date 
• Where to find updates: website first, Facebook limited 
• Parade logistics, reviewing stand location, on-site donations

See you tomorrow at match day for the Armed Forces Community Foundation, which you'll be positioned right out front.

GMCF

CFAs

Episode Transcript

SPEAKER_01 (00:00):
Philanthropy Today is brought to you by the Greater
Manhattan Community Foundation.
In this episode, we feature arecently broadcast segment of
the GMTF Community Hour, asheard on news radio KMAN.
We are back with the GMCFCommunity Hour.
Here we are on Monday, November10th.
You know what tomorrow is, Phil?

SPEAKER_02 (00:20):
Tomorrow is Veterans Day, day.
Thanks for the reminder of that.
And Armed Forces CommunityFoundation match day.
I believe.
We got a few things to talkabout.
We do.

SPEAKER_01 (00:31):
This is Phil Maddox.
Phil is uh president ofOperation Santa Claus and very
involved in uh the uh ArmedForces Community Foundation,
which we house here within theGreater Manhattan Community
Foundation.
We surely do.
You brought a bunny along.

SPEAKER_02 (00:46):
I did.
I brought Colin Kingston alongwith me.
An elf.
Hello.
Hi.
Hello, nice to be here.

SPEAKER_01 (00:52):
Thank you for having me.
How'd you get involved in thatgig, Colin?
Did Phil force you?
He um asked me, twisted my arm,and I'm happy to be on it.
Yes.
Okay.
Well, um, hey, let's just, youknow, we we talked last week uh
on the show about Veterans Day.
You did.

(01:12):
And uh just kind of a quickreminder tomorrow morning at 7,
the Veterans Day breakfast atthe American Legion.
And biscuits and gravy, it'salways a special treat.
Fun time.
Everybody treats me so nice,which is why I go.
And you know, it's so unusualfor me to be treated that
nicely.

SPEAKER_02 (01:28):
Great food, but absolutely great food.

SPEAKER_01 (01:30):
Oh yes, and uh and then the parade downtown on
points begins at 9 30.
Right.
And then the commemorativeceremony at 11 at Peace Memorial
Auditorium, and um we'll bebroadcasting that live on K-Man.
Right.
And then also it's available onCox Cable Channel and and
FaceTime or Facebook Live.
Facebook.
Something like that.
Yeah, I think it's Facebook.

(01:51):
But anyway, come down for theparade.
And it looks like the weather'sgonna be really nice.

SPEAKER_02 (01:54):
It's supposed to be 60 degrees in the afternoon.
Now it'll still be a littlechilly in the morning, but I
think we're fine.
It won't be the 20 of thismorning.
We'll take it.
Absolutely.

SPEAKER_01 (02:01):
We've seen colder, haven't we, sir?

SPEAKER_02 (02:03):
We we had it uh, you know, I'll never forget when the
kids had to be on the bus.
Oh that what, three years ago,four years ago, when it was so
cold and they had to put thekids on the bus?

SPEAKER_01 (02:12):
Yeah, and then you got the Vista veterans that you
know they found an alternativemeans.
That's right.

SPEAKER_02 (02:18):
Oh, it was miserable.

SPEAKER_01 (02:19):
But we have had so much fun with all that.
But uh, we're gonna focus todayhere on our our talk, Phil.
Um is it all right if I justcall you Phil?
Do I need to call you General?

SPEAKER_02 (02:28):
I think we're fine, sir.
Phil's fine.

SPEAKER_01 (02:30):
We've known each other, we've known each other a
long time nowadays.
But Operation Santa, if we aregetting that up close, and you
know, um when we were out in theum, we'll call it the green
room.
Yeah.
Around here it's more the orangeroom.
Right.
Uh because I share this, I sharethe facility with the Pooh Squad
dude.
Right.
And uh and uh we were talkingabout, you know, getting into

(02:52):
the Christmas spirit, and thereare a lot of folks here that
were at McCain last night forStraight No Chaser, including
Christine Benny, who's out therefor moral support.
Um, you know, getting into theChristmas spirit and and um you
know that that brings up so manydifferent opportunities,
challenges, it does, and goalsfor people that uh want to make

(03:14):
sure that it's a it's a niceChristmas time for all.

SPEAKER_02 (03:17):
And that's of course, for us and our mission
as far as offset is concerned atFort Riley.
It's so important this year.
And we'll talk about it a littlebit later the how you know how
the government shut down and howmuch it's impacted.
Heard this morning on the radio,maybe we're getting closer that
they're gonna open it again.
Uh let's hope so.
Let's keep our fingers crossed,our prayers going, because it

(03:39):
would be so great if we couldget it back open again before
Christmas time.
Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 (03:42):
I know there are how many, there are like what, 20
organizations within the ArmedForces Community Foundation?
31.

SPEAKER_02 (03:48):
We have 31 organizations.

SPEAKER_01 (03:51):
Right where needed.

SPEAKER_02 (03:52):
And then we've been it's been all over the place.
And then, of course, we've donethings like Rotary uh to assist
uh the red basket, those kind ofthings.
So there's all kinds of peopledoing great things as far as the
community is concerned, andcertainly with our soldiers.

SPEAKER_01 (04:05):
There is a need in our community for soldiers and
their families.

SPEAKER_02 (04:09):
There certainly is.
The impact is a is trulyamazing.

SPEAKER_01 (04:13):
Why is that?

SPEAKER_02 (04:14):
Um, there's a lot of reasons, uh, but one of the
major ones, of course, is whatthe soldiers bring economically,
of course, to Manhattan uh andhave over the years is Fort
Riley has bought so much uh toFort Riley and to the
communities, whether it be us orJunction City.
But uh yeah, I mean the economicimpact here is just it's

(04:38):
enormous.

SPEAKER_01 (04:39):
It's millions of dollars, obviously.
It's two billion economic impactin the region, right?
Right.
Still somewhere in that area.
Right.
Give or take a few hundredmillion.

SPEAKER_02 (04:47):
Give or take.
So I was just talking toSergeant Major at the hospital
this morning about putting ourbox for Upsana at the hospital,
at Irwin Army Hospital.
And there's over 500 civiliansat the hospital.
There was Burlard right now.
Really?
So when you add that and youtalk about it at Fort Riley as a
whole, we're talking a lot ofmoney.
Yeah.
Because the civilians aren'tgetting paid.
The soldiers have gotten paid,but the civilians have not

(05:09):
getting paid.

SPEAKER_01 (05:10):
Big deal.
Big deal.
Well, let's talk about OperationSanta Claus because that's why
you and Colin over here.
I was getting there.
Sorry, no, I had to breathe.
Uh, that's why you and Colin areare here today to talk about uh
you know what Operation SantaClaus does.

SPEAKER_02 (05:27):
We are, and we uh as always uh glad to be here this
morning.
Operation Santa's in his 42ndyear.
Um, and uh we've just absolutelygot the greatest bunch of
volunteers going this year.
We uh last year, just as areminder, we served over 600,
almost 700 soldiers, uh, andabout 1,500 uh kids that that

(05:51):
represents.
Interesting enough, for thisyear already, talking about the
economic impact and some of thethings that are going on right
now, today, and we open on the19th of November.
We have already filled 300 andand uh uh almost 400, let's just
say, families have alreadysigned up for obsend.
And that represents almost 1,100kids.

(06:13):
Wow.
And we haven't even gotten thereyet.
Yeah, so it's pretty amazing asto what's gonna happen from the
perspective of what we believeis gonna be a monumental year of
being able to help kids.

SPEAKER_01 (06:25):
How many kids do you think you typically help?

SPEAKER_02 (06:28):
As an average, it's been about a thousand to eleven
to twelve.
We're already above average, sowe're above average.
It is, it really is.
So, you know, and we only doSergeant D5 and below, is what
we do.
It's only Fort Riley.
There's great things that happenhere uh with Toys for Manhattan
with Judy Pageant, but but thisis purely uh us from the

(06:52):
perspective of Fort Riley.
Has been all along for thatwhole 41 years at this point,
just being the 42nd years.
So the kids uh, you know, it'sfun.
We have our own building, it'sup next to the post office and
uh Dunkin' Donuts up on thehill.
Everybody knows pretty muchwhere all that is.
Uh, I think Colin like to talkabout, if you can, about what

(07:12):
the kids actually get.

SPEAKER_01 (07:14):
Colin, you're an elf.
Yes, sir, I am.
But when you're an elf forOperation Santa Claus, what are
you doing for the kids?
What's what's your role?

SPEAKER_00 (07:23):
Well, um, I do a little bit of everything as as
do most of the elves.
We wrap the presents, we helptake the parents through to pick
out the toys, we do thefundraising, which is uh
primarily what I help with,sending out letters and asking
for donors and things like that.
We uh decorate uh the uh the uhworkshop so that everything
looks really nice and uh youknow uh and with the holiday

(07:47):
thing for the kids.
We help take pictures withSanta.
That's probably the funnest partof the thing I've done because
to see the magic of the seasonin the kids' eyes when they're
sitting on Santa's lap, that'sjust uh you know, really
heartwarming.

SPEAKER_01 (08:01):
And and every kid that comes through uh gets
something.

SPEAKER_00 (08:05):
Yes, every child uh free of charge gets uh two brand
new toys, one book, one handmadeuh Christmas stocking, and these
are the most beautiful Christmasstockings you've ever seen.
We have a group that makes themfor us, that they do great.
We also give them stuff uh uh wealso give them stocking stuffers
and either a puzzle or a or uhor a board game to uh to promote

(08:30):
family unity.
And uh some of the familiesbring their children and they
let them pick the toys that theywant.
Others of them, the parents justcome through and they pick the
toys for them, and some of theparents have them wrap the
presents and have us wrap thepresents and some don't.
So it's it's a it's a a littlebit of everything.
And I I like the fact that theyget a board game or a uh puzzle

(08:53):
to to uh promote family timeduring the holidays.

SPEAKER_01 (08:55):
Absolutely.
I think that and and I like thebook idea a lot as well.

SPEAKER_02 (08:59):
That's been a donation thing that uh uh
Rotary's helped us with forseveral years.
I don't know.
Yeah, yeah.
Byrne and his community cares.
Um, and we've been able to getbooks, uh not as many this year,
but the reality is uh the bookshave been great.
Yeah, it's really the kids loveit, uh, and the parents
absolutely love it to be able tohave the books too.

SPEAKER_01 (09:18):
So yeah, yeah, it's a good thing.
So, Colin, you you kind of likebeing that elf, don't you?

SPEAKER_00 (09:23):
I love being an elf, it's one of my favorite things
that I get to do.
Uh-huh.

SPEAKER_01 (09:26):
Well, good for you for volunteering to do that.
Oh, thank you.

SPEAKER_00 (09:28):
Plus, I get to take uh Santa around, Phil's, and
help him with all kinds ofthings.

SPEAKER_01 (09:32):
I mean, you know, let's talk about the good
things.
Thanks, Dave.
Let's talk about the donationsbecause that's a key key aspect
to Operation Santa Claus.

SPEAKER_02 (09:45):
Well, without a doubt, everybody can donate uh
at any time uh at the building.
And we'll be at the buildingstarting on the 15th.
The 15th, Colin mentionedpictures.
We will be there for anunofficial opening because
they're gonna be shut down.
We weren't able to do anofficial opening, but we'll have
an unofficial, if you will, lackof a better term, on the 15th.

(10:05):
So this Saturday at 11:30 at thebuilding, and Santa will be
there uh with pictures, as Colinmentioned a few minutes ago.
And then on the 19th, we'll bethere every day.
Um, and that will be an officialopening.
Well, it'll be on the 19th.

SPEAKER_01 (10:19):
Now, one of the things I think we want to
specify here, um, you asked fornew toys.
This is not um, you know, hasbeen played with.

SPEAKER_02 (10:28):
That's been uh oh 10 years, I guess, at this point in
time.
It's just easier for us to dealwith.
We don't have the capability todeal with uh anything that uh is
already broken in those kind ofthings.
So, yes, we're only dealing innew toys.

SPEAKER_01 (10:43):
Okay, good to know.
So if people want to donate atoy, we got plenty of
opportunities to get.
Are you gonna be able to collectsome tomorrow?

SPEAKER_02 (10:49):
We would be able to collect tomorrow on match day.
We'll be set up right beside thereviewing stand tomorrow, just
as we've done in the past.
Okay, and we'll be able topeople will be able to donate.
Kevin West will be there withhis computer for Armed Forces
Community Foundation.
Donate directly to Opsana or toany of the other 31 30
organizations.

SPEAKER_01 (11:06):
If I get some time, I'm gonna put together.
I've got thousands of Hot Wheelsthat are unopened.
So I know you talked about stuckstocking stuffers, and uh, so
I'm gonna dig through and and umand bring a whole bunch of those
because I I don't want to haveto move those.
That'd be greatly appreciated,we'll take them all.

(11:28):
Anytime, you know, and that'sand I and I bet that that's one
of the things.
I mean, just there's all kindsof ways that you can look to to
to try to make this easy forpeople that want to be able to
give and and to be able to dothat.
Very much so.
Okay.
How can we find out more aboutOperation Santa Claus?

SPEAKER_02 (11:44):
Two ways.
Uh on the website uh atops.santa um Fort Riley uh and
or our Facebook page.
Right now, the Facebook page andthe posting is a little harder
because we go through thegovernment to do that, and the
government is shut down at themoment.
So one of the easiest ways atthe moment is just go directly
to our our website uh atopsanta.

(12:08):
Dash Santa.
Dash Santa.
That's a dot com.
Yes, it is dot com.
All right, so that's the easiestway at this point in time,
albeit you you know the peopleon post can have seen our flyers
all over the place.

SPEAKER_01 (12:19):
Well, see you tomorrow at match day for the
Armed Forces CommunityFoundation, which you'll be
positioned right out front.
Uh you had said the reviewingstand, which is right out front
of uh Manhattan City Hall.
Correct.
Peace Memorial Auditorium.
You get to watch the parade,then you get to go inside, be a
part of the ceremony, and uh anduh respect those that have
served and and enjoy uh enjoythose that have served.

(12:44):
Hopefully they can uh feel alittle love in the house.

SPEAKER_02 (12:47):
I think they will.
I mean, it's it's a great event.

SPEAKER_01 (12:50):
Colin, hey, thanks, dude.

SPEAKER_02 (12:52):
Thank you for having me.

SPEAKER_01 (12:53):
It's a pleasure.
You know, and Phil did all thethe bustle work there.
Yes, he did.
You know, he hires drivers for areason.

SPEAKER_00 (13:01):
That's right.
He doesn't pay me to talk.

SPEAKER_01 (13:04):
Colin Winston is his name.
He's an elf with Operation SantaClaus and and uh Phil Maddox,
who's the president of it.
Uh we uh enjoy the the work thatyou guys do, and uh good luck
with your efforts.
Thank you.
And it's always a pleasure to behere, Dave.
Always, always.
Blade Magis is stepping in next.
We're gonna learn more about theWharm Hall project as we
continue here with the GMCFCommunity Hour on News Radio K M

(13:27):
A N.