Santa Claus greets eager children at the Pasadena Police Dept.’s Benedict Heliport after an earlier stop at Huntington Health’s pediatric and NICU units on Wednesday, Dec. 13, 2023.
In what may be his busiest day so far before he chases the moon all around the world on Christmas Eve, Santa Claus teamed up with the Pasadena Police Air Operations Section and the Foothill Air Support Team (FAST) to deliver toys and good cheer to patients at Huntington Health’s pediatric and NICU units Wednesday, in the first of two Pasadena stops.
The 18th annual visit was funded through contributions from Pasadena Police employees and officer associations participating in the FAST program throughout the San Gabriel Valley, as well as the Pasadena Police Foundation.
The FAST team is made up of agencies from the Arcadia, Azusa, Covina, Glendora, Irwindale, Monrovia, Pomona, Pasadena, San Marino, Sierra Madre and South Pasadena Police Departments.
FAST Members donate each year to support Huntington’s pediatric and NICU departments. The gifts generated at Christmas are provided to Huntington’s pediatric patients all year long.
With Mrs. Claus overscheduled in her busy kitchen, Santa was accompanied on Wednesday’s hospital rounds by Pasadena Police Chief Eugene Harris.
Appearing out of the skies to the east on Wednesday morning, Santa’s helicopter circled the hospital twice overhead before touching down on the East Tower Helipad.
Santa strolled through the pediatric and NICU units to the delight of nurses, parents and children, greeting patients and handing out gifts and candy canes to young patients.
From there, Santa took to the Pasadena skies again before lighting at Pasadena’s Benedict Heliport.
There, Santa and the Air Operations Section hosted 50 member clients and parents from Peace over Violence, a non-profit organization dedicated to serving and supporting victims of domestic abuse, sexual assault, domestic violence and intimate partner stalking.
The non-profit offers emotional support, information, compassion, accompaniment, referral and advocacy services, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Children picked out their choice of gifts from tables stacked high with toys and electronics, before greeting Santa and sharing their Christmas wishes.
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