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172 days and 13 hours Till Christmas |
The History of the Santa Clothes Club
The Santa Clothes Club was organized in 1946 to provide new clothing for needy youngsters in the Tri-State who would not otherwise be warmly clothed. It's founders were Dick Anderson, the Sports Editor for the Evansville Press, and Don Menke, then Manager of WEOA Radio (now WIKY). Charter members Sam Medlicott, Executive Director of the YMCA; Eddie Edwards, Youth Director of the YMCA; and Meyer Siegel, owner of Siegel's Mens Store, screened the children referred by schools or civic groups, purchased the clothing, and distributed it to the children at a YMCA party a few days prior to Christmas each year.
 In November of 1981, the Santa Clothes Club was incorporated as a non-profit organization and, in January of 1982, officers and a board of directors were elected. This group is the core of the volunteers who oversee the annual fund drive, including the solicitation of funds, obtaining the names and addresses of the needy children, purchase and distribution of clothing, producing the telethon and any other programs in the community. Planning and coordinating of this project is a yearlong effort.
The actual fund drive begins early-September, when direct mail solicitation letters are mailed to approximately 800 past patrons of the Santa Clothes Club and, write-in donations are encouraged through public service announcements on NEWS 25 and local radio stations. Also,
at this time, letters are sent to all the Santa Clothes Club Coordinators of the public and parochial schools in the Tri-State area to obtain the information on the children and final planning is put into the clothing distribution, telethon and auxiliary programs.
Information on the children is compiled by the staff at NEWS 25 from schools, church groups, civic organizations and private referrals. Counties serviced by the organization are Vanderburgh, Warrick, Gibson, Posey and in Indiana and Henderson County in Kentucky. Certificates are mailed to the children in grades K thru 6 to be redeemed at Super Wal-Mart, on Evansville’s Eastside, for a complete set of clothing – 1 pair of jeans, 1 shirt/top, 6-pack of underwear, 6-pack of socks, gloves, pair of shoes, and a hooded coat.
From 1946 to 1953, The Santa Clothes Club broadcast was presented annually on WEOA Radio, and for the past 54 years has been broadcast on NEWS 25. The telethon is held in December and co-hosted by NEWS 25 on-air talent. Throughout this fund raising effort, there are no paid workers. Every dollar is used to purchase clothing with any miscellaneous expenses being absorbed by participating individuals, groups and the television station.
The Santa Clothes Club has come a long way since 1946, when their goal was to clothe 50 children. Our most successful year was 2006 when we raised over $260,000.00 and over 3,300 children were clothed.
 Each year, every eligible child who was referred received certificates, no child was turned away. Since 1981, the Santa Clothes Club has raised $5,324,000.00 and has clothed over 68,900 children. It's hard to believe, but for some youngsters, it's the first new clothing they have ever received. The faith the volunteers of the Santa Clothes Club have in this project is backed by 60 years of generosity, love and desire to help others.
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