Meet Our Volunteers
Diana E. Ballesteros
President
Joel Ochoa
Vice President
Melissa Barrientos
Secretary
Sapna Mahbubani
Treasurer
Sean O’ Connor
Parliamentarian
Starla O” Connor
Social Media Chair
Tejinder S. Sethi
Board Member
Our Mission
Secret Santa Society raises resources in an effort to support local charities and families in South Texas.
Secret Santa Society started 5 years ago, when a single individual wanted to make Christmas a little brighter for underprivileged children.
As time has gone by, Secret Santa Society has grown from one school in McAllen ISD to several schools in La Joya ISD, Valley View ISD, Hidalgo ISD, PSJA ISD, San Benito ISD, and IDEA Pharr.
We started with only Christmas gifts and have expanded to include donating school supplies, school uniform shirts & sponsoring families in need.
Secret Santa Society applied for non-profit status in 2015, and the group was approved as a tax-exempt 501(c)(3) organization the same year.
Our History
In December of 2011, an anonymous donor approached an educator and asked if any students in her elementary school would possibly not receive a Christmas gift during the Holiday Season.
That year the donor fulfilled the wish list of 12 students from Seguin Elementary in McAllen ISD. It became a annual tradition to provide Christmas gifts to the less fortunate children.
Throughout the seasons it was in 2015 that we officially became a 501 (c) 3 Non profit with the State of Texas. Since then, we have served 17 school across Cameron and Hidalgo counties, and 3 individual families.
partner schools
What makes Secret Santa Society unique is the fact, that we have children write Dear Santa letters. With the help of teachers, we choose those letters that come from children who otherwise might not have a Christmas at home.
Our board members along with teachers and volunteers go Christmas shopping for gifts, shoes, and clothes for each child. The items that are purchased for each child are at their request.
Board members and volunteers gift wrap each gift individually. Lastly, the schools allow the board members to hold a small event in the school to distribute gifts to the children who were chosen.
- Evangelina Garza – La Joya ISD
- Reynaldo Garza – McAllen ISD
- Juan Sequin – McAllen ISD
- IDEA Pharr
- John McKeever – PSJA ISD