BETHPAGE, N.Y., Dec. 13, 2010 -- For the 41 st consecutive year, Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE:NOC) employees in Bethpage will be delivering clothes, linens and, of course, toys to over 70 children at the St. Christopher-Ottille (SCO) home in Seaside, N.Y. "Santa" will be making this delivery today.
The remarkable amount of gifts they bring to each child at the home is a result of 12 months of after-hours organizational efforts made by employees of Northrop Grumman's Bethpage operations. The huge collection of gifts are paid for and, in some cases, directly purchased by hundreds of other site employees. In addition, the group will be presenting a check for over $5,000 to SCO. SCO serves children affected by poverty, neglect, abuse and developmental and mental challenges.
"Our company and our employees donate a lot of time and money to charities, but this group is unique in that one department has dedicated its efforts to this one charity for so long and the tradition has been carried on through generations of employees," said Patricia McMahon, sector vice president, Battle Management and Engagement Systems division. "They start each January, planning, running candy and bake sales and other fund raisers throughout the year. When December finally arrives, it's a wonderful sight to see scores of employees filling a line of cars with huge bags of gifts collected specifically for each child and then watch them drive it all to St. Christopher's."
"For those children, there is a Santa Claus," McMahon said. "Actually, lots of them."
The tradition began in 1969, when a group of people in what was then called the Supply Operations department decided to procure a gift for each child being helped by St. Christopher's Home. Once collected, the gifts were personally delivered by one of the employees, dressed as Santa Claus, and a number of helpers.
Though the original Santa retired after 35 years, as have all of his first helpers, the following generations of that same department, now named Logistics Material, have not only continued but expanded the work. Today, they procure, package and deliver a five-foot-high bag of toys, clothes, other necessities, a new comforter and bed linens -- for every child who lives in SCO's Seaside residence.
Northrop Grumman Corporation is a leading global security company whose 120,000 employees provide innovative systems, products, and solutions in aerospace, electronics, information systems, shipbuilding and technical services to government and commercial customers worldwide. Please visit www.northropgrumman.com for more information.
CONTACT: John A. Vosilla Northrop Grumman Aerospace Systems (516) 575-5119 John.Vosilla@ngc.com