SINCE 1985

Give a child a Christmas morning

Every fall, kids across Long Island write down three Christmas wishes. Your gift is how they come true.

Make a Donation
Make a Donation
Get Involved
Get Involved

ABC7 Eyewitness

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TBR News

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Greater Long Island

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Patch

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ABC7 Eyewitness ✳︎ TBR News ✳︎ Greater Long Island ✳︎ Patch ✳︎

All-volunteer toy drive as seen on ABC7 Eyewitness News

Eyewitness News came to a holiday party at Sayville High School and met Charlie Russo, who started it all in 1985.

Three ways to answer a wish

  • Headshot of smiling female tutor with short blonde hair wearing a lanyard.

    Make a Donation

    Volunteers shop for the gifts kids asked for. Your donation is what they shop with.

    Make a Donation
  • Headshot of smiling male tutor with medium-length black hair wearing a lanyard.

    Shop Wish Lists

    Buy one thing from the real list. It ships to our warehouse and goes into a child's labeled bag.

    Shop the List
  • Headshot of smiling female tutor with long braids wearing a lanyard.

    Volunteer

    Shop, wrap, drive, or work a party alongside your Long Island neighbors.

    Become an Elf 
FOR COMPANIES

Bring Christmas Magic to work

One law firm sponsored 30 children. Your company picks a number, we send their wish lists, your team shops together, and we handle the rest.

A woman with pink hair smiling and making a peace sign while sitting at a table with Christmas gifts, including a colorful gift bag with a reindeer on it. The background shows a window with holiday snowflake decorations.
A woman and a girl standing in front of a red background, both wearing winter clothing and smiling. The girl is in Christmas pajamas, wearing a Santa hat, and carrying a large patterned gift bag. The woman is dressed in a black winter coat, black boots, and a gray cap.
A group of children and a few adults gathered in a classroom celebrating with a cake on a small table. The room is decorated with Christmas ornaments and colorful educational posters.
People lining up at a table with Christmas gift bags and wrapped presents in a decorated indoor setting.
Children and teenagers gathered around a table in a school cafeteria exchanging and opening Christmas presents, with gift bags and boxes on the table. 
THE NUMBERS

Built by neighbors, one Christmas at a time

41

years of Christmas mornings

~14k

children wake up to gifts every year

60

verified partner agencies across Long Island

Zero

paid employees; everyone is a volunteer

The magic runs in the city too

Sophia, Jessica, and Charlie run our NYC chapter for kids across four boroughs, working with partners like Art Start. Every gift to the chapter stays with NYC kids.

View NYC Chapter
View NYC Chapter
Three men dressed in pirate and explorer costumes pose together outdoors, with a group of people and a food truck in the background.

Back Pack Pirates

Our summer program. One day each summer, kids from our partner agencies come for a camp-style day of fun and leave with a backpack full of school supplies.

A smiling man with white hair and a mustache, wearing a striped shirt and a blue vest, standing in front of a yellow wall with signs and a fire extinguisher.

Meet our Founder:
Charlie Russo

In 1985, Charlie wanted to show his son Pete what Santa Claus is really about, so he brought his kids and their friends along as elves to give Christmas to children in a nearby shelter. He couldn't get his elves to leave. He's been the man in the red suit ever since, and like everyone here, he does it as a volunteer.

Read His Story

Make Christmas morning happen.

No one here is paid, so every dollar goes to the children: the gifts themselves and the trucks that deliver them.

Tax receipt by email

Contribute to
3% Cover the Fee

Frequently Asked Questions

  • We can't take sign-ups from families directly. Every child comes to us through one of our partner agencies: shelters, schools, churches, and social-service programs. If your family needs help this Christmas, a caseworker or school counselor can point you to programs in your area.

  • Christmas Magic is run by volunteers, so essentially every dollar goes to the children: the gifts themselves and the multiple trucks that get them to shelters and schools before Christmas. Our tax filings are made public as a legally compliant non-profit.

  • Yes. Christmas Magic is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, EIN 11-3420933, and every online gift gets a tax receipt by email. Your tax advisor can tell you what applies to you.

  • By December 1. After that, peak-season shipping can't beat our trucks, so the list closes. Volunteers keep shopping locally with donations right up to the parties.

  • Yes. Email info@christmasmagic.org and we'll work out the details. The easiest way, though, is our Amazon wish list: every item comes from children's handwritten wish lists and ships straight to our warehouse.

  • (≈Dec 1 cutoff)

  • (LI-only, email)

  • (→ /backpack-pirates)

See All Questions

Still have a question?

Whether it's about giving, volunteering, or sponsoring with your company, email info@christmasmagic.org and a volunteer will write back.

Email Us