The giving spirit is alive and well around St. Ann Center this holiday season. Despite the challenges caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, Greater Milwaukee area businesses and community organizations stepped up to ensure our children and adult clients have a Christmas to remember!

The staff at Zimmerman Architectural Studios, Harwood Engineering and Venture Architects gave Santa’s elves a run for their money—spending weeks shopping for just the right gifts for both St. Ann Center’s childcare kids—ranging from infants to school-age—and the elders and adults with disabilities who spend their day at the center. The week before Christmas, they stopped by with bags bulging with wished-for presents—games, sweaters, sports swag, coloring books, purses, sneakers, pajamas and blankets, included.

Allied Industries, Inc. of Cudahy followed Santa’s lead by donating several boxes of brand-new children’s books and puzzles.

Other caring companies held Christmas fundraisers, donating to St. Ann Center’s gift fund. Employees from We Energies, Hays Companies of Wisconsin, the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel and the South Shore Yacht Club Auxiliary made sure all the adults and children at both the Stein and Bucyrus Campuses received a present selected especially for them. United Way of Greater Milwaukee & Waukesha County chipped in, too, with gift cards for the clients. And Sr. Celestine Kalunge, Dr. Brooke Hansen and Kim Scalese saw to it all the adults at the Bucyrus Campus received a fleece blanket and coffee mug to help them keep warm all winter.

St. Ann Center’s Board Room turned into Christmas Wrapping Central, as staffers tied up the holiday preparations with a bow. Santa joined Sr. Edna Lonergan, the center’s president, for the gift opening, paying a personal visit to the Bucyrus Campus and dropping in via Zoom at the Stein Campus.

We hope the smiles in these photos convey the joy these generous people brought to St. Ann Center’s children and clients. On behalf of all of us, Merry Christmas and have a Blessed New Year!