Who We Are

Santa’s Sparkle is a charity event benefitting local families whose holidays are in jeopardy because of undue hardship and considerable need.

It is administered by The Zazza Community Foundation whose founder, Tony Zazza, host of Zazza Mornings, conceived the idea of spreading joy and magic to families who need it the most.  Through a premier partnership with the Hilton Anatole, Santa’s Sparkle is the unique partnership of local community advocates, volunteers, personalities, and businesses.

Santa’s Sparkle is also a collaboration with community members throughout Dallas and Fort Worth.  Without the help of the general public, Santa’s Sparkle would not be possible.  Their donations, nominations, and tireless support makes this incredible event happen.

Tony Zazza of Zazza Mornings & The Zazza Community Foundation Founder

What Happens

There are three major stages of Santa’s Sparkle: Open Nomination Period, Preparation, and the big event itself.

Open Nomination Period

For approximately one month, usually most of November, the Open Nomination Period opens online.  We accept nominations from third parties (those not immediate members of the family being nominated.)  Nominations are only accepted online.

With help from loyal supporters, nominations are solicited through social networks online.  We also ask that our supporters help to spread the word about the Open Nomination Period.  In sharing, the mission of Santa’s Sparkle & The Zazza Community Foundation is also spread across new audiences.

The requirements to nominate a deserving family are not rigid but are rather flexible and transparent.  We do not focus solely on families experiencing illness or who have endured loss.  Instead, nominations are welcome for any family that would benefit greatly from the extra holiday magic and who are exceedingly deserving.

Preparation

Once the Open Nomination Period closes, we being the process of narrowing down the hundreds of nominations to approximately 15 or so candidate nominations.  Comparing nominations to our mission of serving deserving families in need who have experienced undue hardship threatening their holidays, the pre-selection process is one of the most exhaustive steps to a successful event.

Once all candidate nominations are chosen then the Annual Selection Committee is called to assemble.  All candidate nominations are reviewed by each committee member.  A preferential voting process determines which 5 of the candidate nominations are to then become Selected Families for Santa’s Sparkle.  The results of the vote are reviewed and finalized by the Board of Directors of The Zazza Community Foundation.

Nominators of the Selected Families are then contacted by Tony Zazza and surprised with the announcement that their nomination was selected.  From there, serious grunt work is planned.  Nominators provide us with a list of each family’s needs and their wants for each family member.  We also gather important information about the families to help make the experience smooth and truly memorable without any hiccups.  Then the final shopping list is created and we hit the pavement.

Because of the help from donors, corporate partners, and our supporters, we are able to collect almost all of the items on these families’ lists.  With precise organization, every item is wrapped and stored for loading. Volunteers spend hours wrapping each gift and personalizing them.  Once we are loaded up with the gifts, trees for each family, and more surprising goodies, we head out to the Hilton Anatole.

The Big Event

It’s a very early wake-up call.  The families are resting, anticipating a day of fun but not knowing just how magical it will actually be for them.  Before the Zazza Mornings radio show even starts its day, Santa’s Sparkle staff has arrived to the Hilton Anatole’s Sparkle! attraction to orchestrate the day.

An army of volunteers begin to set up the family’s trees, attach the final bows & ribbons, and decorate each tree.  Typically local news media arrives to document the magic as it begins to build in a large space filled with twinkling lights.

Zazza Mornings broadcasts live from within Sparkle! at the Hilton Anatole while the setup culminates into a “NorthPole” Winter Wonderland.  Real live reindeer have arrived as well as specialty activity games and of course Santa & Mrs. Claus.  The families have awoken and enjoyed balloon artists and face painters with breakfast plus a crafts station where they get to create and customize ornaments for the trees they haven’t yet seen.  Once everything is in place, a trumpeter beckons the families to follow him.

Each family walks behind the trumpeter only to turn a corner and see in the distance Santa & Mrs. Claus smiling.  After the children run to see them and hug them, Santa officially welcome the families to Santa’s Sparkle!  The doors open and the trees are there for the families to gaze upon.

Tears flow as children scream and giggle with pure joy.  But the magic is not simply in the gifts.  There’s an ice skating rink, bounce houses, elves, reindeer, activities, and much more.  Once the initial thrill calms down, lunch is served and the children, plus many adults who are kids at heart, experience the full excitement of Sparkle! before dinner.  Mothers & daughters get whisked away to manicures and pedicures.  Each family is engulfed with smiles, warmth, and happiness.

Without having to miss a step, the families get to stay overnight in a luxury suite at the Anatole and awake the next morning refreshed, rejuvenated, and reinvigorated from the compassion and generosity of so many others.

Santa’s Sparkle brings the magic of Santa and the North Pole to children.  Their laughter and grins are a relief for their parents or guardians who are also surprised with gifts and generosity.  It is heartwarming to see how local community members like yourself can make a huge difference by simply nominating a deserving family.