Our mission
Santee Santas is an all-volunteer organization working together to deliver the holiday spirit throughout the Santee Community.
About Us
We are Santee Santas
The Santee Santas Foundation is a local non-profit 501(c)(3) registered organization, providing help to members of the community living within the Santee School District boundaries and in need of assistance.
Santee Santas’ signature effort is an annual holiday children’s toy and food assistance drive focused on bringing the Christmas spirit to families in our community. Our senior outreach program helps to ensure seniors in our community who are living alone or in senior care facilities are not forgotten over the holidays. Santee Santa volunteers serve the Santee community throughout the year, and have done since 1953!
Santee Santas is an all-volunteer organization, with current and retired school district employees, City of Santee staff, firefighters, local businesses, service organizations, mobile home parks, and local citizens working together to make each year’s endeavors successful. There are minimal administrative costs; all donations are tax deductible and are used to assist families and seniors in need of help.
Core Values
- Collaboration – We promote partnerships that engage individuals and organizations focused on the common goal of assisting in our community.
- Dignity – We treat our families, partners, volunteers, and donors with respect, empathy and compassion without bias or judgment. We welcome and value the differences in all people.
- Agility – We promote an organizational culture that encourages new ideas, improvements, flexibility and innovations, and turns challenges into opportunities.
- Inclusivity - We believe that no person should be excluded from participation in our services or volunteering on the basis of race, color, religion, gender, gender expression, age, national origin, disability, sexual orientation, or military status, or for any other discriminatory reason.
Our Dedicated Board of Directors
Tonya Hendrix, President
Tonya Hendrix is a long-time Santee community member and has been a member of the Santee Santas Board of Directors since 2012. She is a retired Santee School Teacher and currently serves as President of Santee Santas.
Kelly Disbrow, Vice President
Kelly is a long-time resident of Santee. She spent 6 years as a volunteer before deciding to serve on the Board of Directors in 2023. Kelly is a teacher assistant at a public charter school in Santee.
Linda Vail, Treasurer
Linda Vail is 40 year Santee resident and an active community member. Linda is a retired Executive Assistant and joined the Santee Santas Board of Directors in 2016. She currently serves as the Treasurer.
Channing Dawson
Channing Dawson is a Santee Firefighter/Paramedic and has been the Santee Firefighter Representative on the Board of Directors since 2018. He serves as a liaison with the City of Santee and organizes the assistance of Santee Firefighters each year for the Holiday Food and Toy Program.
Terry Johnson
Terry Johnson is a long-time resident of Santee. She volunteered for more than 10 years before joining the Board of Directors in 2020. Terry is a retired Santee School District Teacher.
Ginger Owens
Ginger has been a Santee resident for 50 years and is an active community member. She is a retired Publishing Production Designer. Ginger joined the Santee Santas Board of Directors in 2020.
Peter Diehl
Peter Diehl has been a Santee resident for many years. He and his family have a history of volunteer service throughout the Santee community, including Santee Santas. Peter was elected to the Board of Directors in 2025 and brings his business experience, organizational skills, and strong commitment to community service.
Stacy Workman
Stacy Workman is a 25-year resident of Santee. After volunteering last year, she developed a great desire to be more involved with Santee Santas. Stacy is retiring from a career with the city of San Diego and joined the Board of Directors in 2025 sharing her management experience and skills to support Santee Santas.
Hailey Conyers
Hailey has been a Santee resident for 20 years. She began volunteering for Santee Santas as a youth with her Girl Scout troop. Hailey has continued her service to Santee Santas as an adult and joined the Board of Directors in 2023 with the strong desire to serve the community.
Sarah Kirk, Secretary
Sarah has been a Santee resident for more than a decade. After volunteering for a few years with Santee Santas with her family, Sarah decided to join the Board of Directors in 2024. Sarah is an educator and has a lifelong love of volunteering in her community.
Heather Dennis
Heather has been teaching in the San Diego Unified School District for 19 years. Heather has actively volunteered with Santee Santas for the past four years and joined the Board in 2024. Heather is passionate about giving back to her community, especially during the holiday season.
Find a Volunteer Opportunity
- All adult volunteers must complete the volunteer application and waiver. Click below to sign up!
- Parents of volunteers under 18 should download and complete the child volunteer waiver and bring it to your child’s first volunteer event.