Be A Santa
The Sci-Fi community has been making the holidays happen for the children of Penny Lane Centers since 1995!
Be a Santa
The Sci-Fi community has been making the holidays happen for the children of Penny Lane Centers since 1995!
2024 Fundraiser Countdown
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How You Can Help
There are several ways you can help these kids! Read on for details.
Monetary Donation
Make a monetary donation. Everything helps. Everything!
Donation Party
A Party, even a virtual gathering, is a great way to gather gifts and donations. Please share our link, mention the BeASanta.org program, and encourage folks to share with their friends too.
Giving Tree
Is there a party or event at your work? Have a giving tree set up at your place of work, and make an ornament shaped note for the branches, giving an idea for what your co workers can donate.
House Gifts
Provide ‘House’ gifts of board games, PG-13 DVDs, and books and sporting goods, that can be given to the foster family house. Footballs, basket balls, jump ropes, hula hoops, soccer balls etc.
Comic Books
A lot of my kids don’t want to read a book so comics are a great way to trick them into reading! Please, no dark subject matter.
About “Be A Santa”
My name is Patricia Tallman and I volunteer for the Penny Lane Home for Children. In 1995, I created a program for the teens of Penny Lane called “Be A Santa”.
Penny Lane has care facilities and programs for thousands of kids and families, and was started in the 1960s by a remarkable woman named Ivelise Markovitz. Penny Lane, like many worthy places, faces desperate challenges to keep the doors open, much less provide the kids with Holiday gifts. Here’s where we come in.
The Be A Santa program makes the holidays happen for the foster kids in Penny Lane Centers in California. We provide resources for gifts and for things like Holiday parties, decorations, & dinners.
About “Be A Santa”
My name is Patricia Tallman and I volunteer for the Penny Lane Home for Children. In 1995, I created a program for the teens of Penny Lane called “Be A Santa”.
Penny Lane has care facilities and programs for thousands of kids and families, and was started in the 1960s by a remarkable woman named Ivelise Markovitz. Penny Lane, like many worthy places, faces desperate challenges to keep the doors open, much less provide the kids with Holiday gifts. Here’s where we come in.
The Be A Santa program makes the holidays happen for the foster kids in Penny Lane Centers in California. We provide resources for gifts and for things like Holiday parties, decorations, & dinners.
We Have a
Matching Gift!
A dear and generous person has made $10,000 available to Be A Santa for the kids and all we have to do is raise a matching $10,000! All the money goes to the kids. Every cent.
You can see where we are at via the goal bar on this page or on our Facebook or Instagram for updates.
The children at Penny Lane get something more precious that they can imagine, more valuable than they know. Not just the hard working, dedicated staff at Penny Lane, they get the love of the people who help from the heart with this project. Please remember the children of Penny Lane this Holiday. Thank you… from the heart!
Letters from “Be A Santa” Kids
“I never had a Christmas because my parents never had any money to buy us anything. But my parents aren’t around anymore and I’m a strong person for all the right reasons and I am a real grateful person for anything that is given to me. And I thank God every day to have people like you, important people, in this world.
So I just want to thank you all for giving all of these gifts that my parents couldn’t give me. And being real helpful to us girls in Penny Lane. You’ve shown me what Christmas is all about.”
Girl, 18
“Dear Pat and Friends, I’d like to thank all who’s helping Penny Lane kids out. I think it’s a good thing that people is helping out with us. I have been here almost 5 years and you help out a lot of people that come and that left.
You have been the biggest inspiration in my life when I am in PL so thanks for what you have done and I just hope that you keep doing what you are doing.”
Boy, 18
Letters from “Be A Santa” Kids
“I never had a Christmas because my parents never had any money to buy us anything. But my parents aren’t around anymore and I’m a strong person for all the right reasons and I am a real grateful person for anything that is given to me. And I thank God every day to have people like you, important people, in this world.
So I just want to thank you all for giving all of these gifts that my parents couldn’t give me. And being real helpful to us girls in Penny Lane. You’ve shown me what Christmas is all about.”
Girl, 18
“Dear Pat and Friends, I’d like to thank all who’s helping Penny Lane kids out. I think it’s a good thing that people is helping out with us. I have been here almost 5 years and you help out a lot of people that come and that left.
You have been the biggest inspiration in my life when I am in PL so thanks for what you have done and I just hope that you keep doing what you are doing.”
Boy, 18
News & Updates
Babylon 5 Commentary for Donors – Update from Patricia and Jason!
Patricia Tallman and B5 expert Jason Davis have joined forces to create a new commentary on a Babylon 5 episode, which will only be available to those who donate $10 or more to Be A Santa for the Penny Lane kids!
Receive a brand new Babylon 5 commentary by Donating to Be A Santa!
I am about to get my list and head out to do some more shopping. The teens need warm pajamas, slippers, towels, flip flops for the shower, shampoo and other personal items. I need your help. We are almost half way to our goal! Fantastic! If you were thinking about...
Holiday Hollers: Thanksgiving 2023
Update Penny Lane is providing turkey dinners with all the trimmings for 320 families for Thanksgiving! The holiday season can be a difficult time for foster families, who often face financial strain and the challenges of caring for children with complex needs. There...
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Checks and Physical Donations
Checks should be made out to Penny Lane with Be A Santa in the memo.
Send to:
Penny Lane - Be A Santa c/o Nydia Barakat
Director of Fund Development
10526 Dubnoff Way North Hollywood, CA 91606
Please email us and let us know you sent in a donation: pat@questretreats.com