Denver HUD employees "adopted" two Head Start classes at the urban Greenlee Elementary School as part of the Denver Federal Executive Board's 2002 Holiday Gift Program. HUD's goal: fill the holiday wish lists of 34 little 3-5 year olds.

Denver HUD's Della Lucero beams as the Greenlee Elementary School Head Start children open their holiday gifts.

The Holiday Gift Program was an area-wide effort sponsored by the Denver Federal Executive Board, but HUD employees alone contributed some 120 gifts, valued at over $1,000. At Denver HUD's Holiday Recognition Party earlier in December, "Santa" had a "chimney" where HUD staff could deposit their gifts - mostly books, clothing, and toys the kids had requested. The Office of Administration had a Christmas tree on display with tags on it for each of the Greenlee children. Anyone could take a tag and purchase the requested items on it for that child.

The generosity of HUD staff made this a very successful and rewarding holiday project over the past three years, and 2002 was no different. HUD's gifts were delivered on December 19th, along with cookies and punch. HUD staff (right) Sharon Duplantier, Yvonne Flores, a Head Start teacher, Regional Director John Carson, Ann Ornelas, and Della Lucero visited the Head Start classes and had fun distributing the gifts and spending some happy moments with the children who were excited about the prospect of a visit from Santa.