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Grant a Child’s Wish this Holiday

posted by Dan Newman at 8:19 pm.

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For 13 years, the Daily Illini (DI) and WPGU-FM 107.1 have helped bring holiday smiles to children through Operation Santa. The DI seeks out organizations, businesses, and individuals to donate gifts matching the wishes of children from partnering charities, and WPGU-FM hosts an on-air monetary pledge drive. Last year the duo raised over $8,000 to fulfill holiday wishes for children serviced by Crisis Nursery and Parent Wonders.
The goal is to provide gifts to a total of 80 families from the Center for Women in Transition, Cunningham Children’s Home, First Call for Help, Crisis Nursery, and Parent Wonders. To achieve this goal the DI and WPGU need help from the community.

Be a part of Operation Santa 2007!

There are three options for getting involved:

1. Cash donations can be made towards the purchase of gifts. Call WPGU at (217)337-1071 to make your donation. Every donation made will also grant the giver one song request on-air.
2. If you want the warm fuzzies that come from purchasing a gift yorself, or if your organization wants to organize a gift drive, gifts can be purchased directly from a child’s wish list. Please email dipromo@illinimedia.com by November 29 if interested in participating through this route. After expressing intent to participate, a children’s wish list will be supplied.
3. Looking for a fun night out for a good cause? Check out the “12 Beers of Christmas” event at the Esquire, Dec. 13 @ 6:00. (Thanks to a commenter we’ve corrected this time!) For $20 you can sample 12 different seasonal microbrew beers. 50% of all proceeds benefit Operation Santa.

Lets make sure that everyone has a happy holiday! Donate now!

Dan Newman: Compulsively overextended but always peppy, Dan is your inaugural Producer for the217.com. You can reach him at producer@the217.com.