Watch Some Of Our Children

This year we will have over 400 terminally ill children who are able to attend this event and sometimes this may be their last memorable holiday to celebrate with their siblings and parents. The “Flight to the North Pole” tradition continues in that each child that attends [and their siblings] are presented with gifts, lunch, and entertained by volunteers dressed as elves and clowns. The event is held the second week in December, with the Sheriff and his staff volunteering their time, along with Airport Fire Department personnel. The Sheriff’s Office helicopter transports “Santa”, who lands at the airport Fire Station and greets the children and their families, with hugs.

Once Santa arrives, you can hardly contain the excitement of the children and families. Inside the Fire Station, is a Santa’s workshop, where the children can sit with Mr. and Mrs. Santa Claus and tell them of their list and receive their gift bags. Needless to say, this is a memorable event not only for the children, but for their families as well. Volunteers from the business community and citizens from Manatee and Sarasota counties provide dollars for gifts, in-kind donations of food, time, gifts, door prizes, entertainment and other services.

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OUR STORY

The Foundation for this program started in 1985 by a number of Eastern Airline flight attendants and Sidney Ettedgui and has grown ever since. For many years, Sidney Ettedgui, the Manatee County Sheriff’s Office and the Sarasota/Bradenton Airport Fire Department make this a memorable event for the terminally ill children.

This year we will have over 400 terminally ill children who are able to attend this event and sometimes this may be their last memorable holiday to celebrate with their siblings and parents. The “Flight to the North Pole” tradition continues in that each child that attends [and their siblings] are presented with gifts, lunch, and entertained by volunteers dressed as elves and clowns. The event is held the second week in December, with the Sheriff and his staff volunteering their time, along with Airport Fire Department personnel. The Sheriff’s Office helicopter transports “Santa”, who lands at the airport Fire Station and greets the children and their families, with hugs. Once Santa arrives, you can hardly contain the excitement of the children and families. Inside the Fire Station, is a Santa’s workshop, where the children can sit with Mr. and Mrs. Santa Claus and tell them of their list and receive their gift bags. Needless to say, this is a memorable event not only for the children, but for their families as well. Volunteers from the business community and citizens from Manatee and Sarasota counties provide dollars for gifts, in-kind donations of food, time, gifts, door prizes, entertainment and other services.

The end result is a Christmas Wonderland of snow, elves, decorations, lights, and Santa and Mrs. Claus greeting each and every child, taking photographs, and providing gifts. Lunch is served, choirs sing, and volunteers surround the children and their families to help them maximize their time away from illness/disease and enjoy the holiday without any stresses.

We would like to take a moment to thank our sponsors, because without there generous help, Flight to The North Pole would not be able to function. We encourage you to use their services whenever possible. Click on a sponsor’s logo to visit their website.