Generous donations fuel Ellis Early Learning

On a frigid winter day, there’s nothing quite like stepping into a room brimming with gifts—and that’s exactly what the Ellis team experienced this holiday season! We’re overjoyed to share the outpouring of support we received from our incredible community partners, who generously donated gifts for our students, families, and teachers. Frances Velazquez, Ellis’s family navigator, took the lead in organizing and distributing these donations, ensuring they reached those who needed them most. Donors began the holiday season for Ellis families last November and continued strong until Christmas.

Is it really Thanksgiving if there isn’t a turkey? Ellis received turkeys from Neighborhood Villages that were provided to teachers and families. The turkeys were delivered to Ellis, where they were distributed to families and faculty who enjoyed them as the center of their Thanksgiving meals. With the help of Neighborhood Villages and the whole team at Ellis, we provided a complete meal for Ellis families and staff in need! 

As the holiday season continued, Ellis launched multiple donation initiatives to guarantee that every child felt special this holiday season. Our dedicated Development Team worked tirelessly with organizations, resulting in the donation of clothing and toys. Cradles to Crayons graciously provided pajamas, socks, underwear, coats, and boots for Ellis’s students. Meanwhile, a local real estate law firm Crowley & Cummings LLC adopted an Ellis family in particular need, sending a bountiful collection of holiday gifts. The combined efforts of these extraordinary partners filled our community with joy and made the season brighter for our students, families, and teachers. 

Our annual gift-giving program, Frosty’s Friends, brought even more holiday magic, thanks to the support of countless corporations and individuals who contributed to the gift drive. This heartwarming initiative spanned both our South End and Jamaica Plain campuses, with hundreds of gifts delivered to students. Wish lists were distributed to each classroom and sent out by email to families to ensure all children received their dream gifts. These gifts were added to one big Amazon wish list, which was sent to corporations and families in our newsletter and posted on LinkedIn. The response was overwhelming, with mountains of gifts sent to Ellis and thoughtfully wrapped by our team members and volunteers. Right before the holidays, the gifts were distributed to every student, sending them home with a smile. We are so grateful that we could spread such cheer to our students this holiday season!  

During a time that can often feel busy and overwhelming, the kindness of our community partners and the dedication of the Ellis team reminded us of the true meaning of the season – coming together to support one another. These generous gifts ensured that every student at Ellis experienced the holiday season they deserve. We want to thank everyone who contributes to Ellis not only during the holidays, but every day in any way they can.