Wellroot Raises $77,000 with “The Tattooed Santa” Christmas Event OUR TOWN DEKALB STAFF
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ellroot Family Services held its annual Family Christmas Party in December, benefiting Wellroot’s foster families and raising funds to help support its mission. “The Tattooed Santa” was the guest of honor at the “Wonderland” event; a father to over twelve children (three by birth, nine by adoption, and many more foster children), his passion in life is working with children in foster care. (Follow The Tattooed Santa on Facebook.) In addition to visiting with Santa, guests enjoyed games, yummy treats, and lots of gifts. The event raised over $64,000 in gifts, clothes and food, plus over $13,000 in financial assistance, and helped 225 children and teens in Wellroot foster care enjoy a happy holiday. Local sponsors of the event included King Industrial Realty, Whitehead Foundation, Jackson Healthcare, Keller Williams Realty Atlanta (East Perimeter), Advanced Pro Services, the Browne Family, Haywood Memorial, Midway UMC, Oak Grove UMC, Northbrook UMC, Waffle House, Crossroads UMC, Gainesville First UMC, My Zion UMC Marietta, and Oakwood First UMC. Donations are still being accepted for the Wellroot Holiday Fund through its website wellroot.org/cultivate or by texting GIVE CHRISTMAS to 41444. Wellroot Family Services, formerly The United Methodist Children’s Home, is Georgia’s longest-serving child welfare organization. For 150 years, Wellroot has provided homes for the state’s most at-risk children, teens, young adults, and families. Wellroot’s programs include foster care, kinship care, transitional and independent living, family housing, and family preservation.
20 OUR TOWN DEKALB | January 2022
