THIS PAGE TO BE UPDATED SOON

Ideas on the drawing board

 

INCREASE AWARENESS THROUGH SEARCH ENGINE ADVERTISING Although the USPS' Operation Santa has been in place since 1912, few Americans know about it. We're hoping to support it by increasing public awareness of the program, in part by search engine advertising on MSN and Yahoo, as well as Google.

In 2008, Google approved a $40,000 per month grant for us, in the form of free "Pay-Per-Click" advertising. However we still need funds to pay for advertising on Yahoo and MSN. Our proposed budget for Yahoo and MSN is $700 per day, increasing to $2,500 to $3,000 per day as Christmas draws near. We are sure this will result in many more Christmas gifts being bought for needy kids. As yet, MSN and Yahoo have not offered free advertising as Google has, but we will attempt to enlist them.

A NATIONAL DIRECTORY OF POSTAL BRANCHES OFFERING 'OPERATION SANTA' will be available on www.usps.com.

PUBLIC RELATIONS FIRM By summer, 2009 we'd also like to be working with a major public relations firm, or a PR officer in-house, to get the print and broadcast media to do more stories on the Operation Santa and Letters to Santa program. Segments on World News Tonight, The Today Show, Oprah and other national press are likely possibilities. For now, we'll rely on support from the press as it comes, and on our small but growing group of volunteers who send emails to their friends about us, and post this site in forums and blogs, Facebook and My Space. But a public relations firm would really help spread the word, and despite our efforts, we have been unable to get one to work for free.

LEGAL FEES TO APPLY FOR OUR TAX EXEMPT STATUS In December, 2008 we successfully raised the needed attorney's fees to apply for 501c3 tax-exempt status. Until our tax exemption application is received, we will continue to rely on our 501c3 non-profit partner. They have acted as our fiscal sponsor so that donations to our group are tax-deductible. We will continue to endeavor to raise funds from a small number of private sources who see our potential and share our vision. Your support is most welcome! We are also hoping to get government funding to pursue this eminently worthy project.

GIFTS TO BE AN ELF ARE ALREADY TAX-DEDUCTIBLE, thanks to our fiscal sponsor's established tax-exempt 501c3 status, and our sponsorship agreement with them. Click here for details about our fiscal sponsor and temporary partner.

LIST OF ORPHANAGES We've posted a new page of Other ways to volunteer when no local post office offers Operation Santa. We are sure this could be enhanced. For example, a paid staff could help us compile and post a list of orphanages and organizations serving at-risk youth around the US at this site.

GOING INTERNATIONAL We plan to post web pages in different languages at new sister sites, initially in European nations whose children traditionally write to Santa Claus. Of course we'll research and detail the policy of postal administrations in each country.

 

IN THE COMING YEAR

In the coming year we'll develop and refine the proposed tasks above. We plan to get both private and government funding for them, and to continue in our mission of supporting the USPS® in its wonderful, time-honored Operation Letters to Santa program.

Let it be said that the USPS is doing a great job. Every year they send out press releases to remind newsmedia in local communities about Operation Santa. And every year, many postal employees quietly and selflessly volunteer their free time and personal funds to send children gifts. Members of the public, as well as companies large small, also volunteer to be "elves" each year.

The good which the USPS program is doing is immeasurable.

We need your gift because we wish to expand our unique outreach and grow. With your contribution, we'll be able to achieve our goals for Be An Elf, and continue our present mission in surprising and innovative ways.

We love the simple idea putting smiles on the faces of low-income children on Christmas morning, and inspiring thousands of individuals and families to catch the true spirit of the holidays and giving.

It's micro-philanthropy, direct from every volunteer to a child.

Volunteers are encouraged to selflessly put simple "From Santa" cards on gifts. This will keep kids believing in Santa Claus, and also lift the spirits of needy children everywhere.

 

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