New York Santa
When only the "real" Santa will do.
People often ask me why I perform as Santa. Here’s a brief explanation of the rewards. Santa has the opportunity to meet and speak with literally thousands of children and young adults throughout the This year, I decided to see if I could inspire the spirit of giving and asked each child (of appropriate age) the following question… “If you could give a gift to anyone in this world, what would you give?” I was told by one event sponsor the question was too hard for children to grasp. I disagree. I believe if you’re old enough to ask for something from another, you should be old enough to understand the concept of giving something to another. The children answers range widely. I’ve been told these youngsters would give away toys, money, a bicycle, video games, etc. Some deeply thought answers included, a car, furniture, a house, the return of a divorced parent, even water to people in One twelve year old boy however, surprised me with a very profound answer. “If I could give a gift to anyone in this world, I would give my life ! Needless to say, this answer caught me quite off guard and I asked this young man to explain what he meant. He simply answered that if someone needed, he would offer his life to save another. Need I say more? Wishes for a peaceful and joyous holiday, and a prosperous and healthy 2009. Dana “Santa” Friedman Over the years, Santa's appearances have increased through the aid of donations to the Laws for The Claus program and sponsorships by: Ø The law firm of Kleinberg & Friedman, Esqs. in New York City, New York visit them on the web at www.KFLawNYC.com Ø New Xcel Motors, Inc. in Brooklyn, New York Ø Great Kolor LLC in San Francisco, California. Visit them on the web at http://www.GreatKolor.NET Ø Adele's Costumes of Hollywood in Los Angeles, California. Visit them on the web at www.adelescostumes.com Ø EgoBelts.com. . Visit them on the web at www.egobelts.com Ø And donations of toys from companies like the wonderful people at Applause/Dakin Toy Company Santa has become a regular visitor and toy deliverer for infirmed, hospitalized, and institutionalized children throughout the New York area. With the aid of charitable donations, the Laws for the Claus program New York Santa has expanded his annual visits to include: Ø Applebee's Restaurant of Paramus, the U.S. Marine's Toys for Tots Drive Ø Bayside Kindergarten and Nursery School. Ø Bayside YMCA. Ø Bronx Zoo Holiday Lights Display. Visit them on the web at www.bronxzoo.com Ø Children's Aid Society. Visit them on the web at www.childrensaidsociety.org. Ø Colonnade Management Toys For Tots Drive, 217 Broadway, N.Y.C. Visit them on the web at www.columbuspropertiesinc.com. Ø Cub Scouts of America, the U.S. Marine's Toys for Tots Drive. Visit them on the web at www.scouting.org Ø Eagle Warehouse Corporation. Ø Forestdale Children's Services. Visit them on the web at www.forestdaleinc.org Ø Gilda's Club. Visit them on the web at www.gildasclub.org. Ø Jamaica Hospital Medical Center. Visit them on the web at www.jamaicahospital.org Ø J&R Computer and Music World., 15 Park Row, New York, New York. Visit them on the web at www.jr.com. Ø N.Y. Foundling Hospital North Manhattan Family & Community Services. Visit them on the web at www.nyfoundling.org Ø New York Foundling Hospital Queens Division. Visit them on the web at www.nyfoundling.org Ø Northshore Orthodontics the Office of Dr. Scott Friedman, and Dr. Efraim Zak D.D.S. Visit them on the web at www.braceman.com. Ø Pizzeria Uno's of Bayside, the U.S. Marine's Toys for Tots Drive. Visit them on the web at www. Ø Queens Women's Bar Association. Visit them on the web at www.qcwba.com. Ø Scholastic Books Holiday party for underprivileged children. Visit them on the web at www.scholastic.com Ø St. Mary's Hospital for Children. Visit them on the web at www.stmaryskids.org Ø U.S. Marine's Toys for Tots Drive. Visit them on the web at www.toysfortots.org Ø The U.S.O. United Service Organizations. Visit them on the web at www.uso.org Ø Internet performance on www.BudgetSanta.com Ø Interviewed by CBS News The Early Show (2008). See the interview on the web at http://www.cbsnews.com/video/watch/?id=4617089n Ø Interviewed by NTV (America Russian-Language Television) (2007). Visit them on the web at www.russian-tv.com Ø Interviewed by TV Guide Channel (2008). Visit them on the web at www.tvguide.com Ø Interviewed by WNYC Radio (2007). Visit them on the web at www.wnyc.org In 2006, Santa was asked to appear at some non-charitable events. After weighing these expansion options, we decided that commercial appearances can be made, as long as they do not interfere with the charitable goals we set out to accomplish several yeas ago. As such, Santa has expanded his annual visits to include: Ø J&R Computer and Music World., 15 Park Row, New York, New York visit them on the web at www.jr.com Ø The Office of Dr. Scott Friedman, and Dr. Efraim Zak D.D.S. visit them on the web at www.braceman.com Ø When not making toys and gifts, or visiting girls and boys, Santa has been known to frequent the New York City Court system. A little known fact, in his off time, Santa is a trial attorney with the law firm of Kleinberg & Friedman, Esqs. For nearly a decade, through their "Laws For The Claus" program, Kleinberg & Friedman, Esqs. has enjoyed the pleasure of organizing and donating the services of what thousands of children have come to know as the "real" Santa Claus for visits during the holiday season. Along the way, other sponsors have added their support, and pun intended, Santa’s appearances are "snowballing". Santa is a graduate of the International University of Santa Claus (yes Virginia, there is such a thing) and is trained in (among other things), presentations for children, meetings and conventions on "The Origins of Santa Claus," "The Symbols of Christmas, “Christmas Folklore," "Christmas Customs Around the World" and "How to get a Head Start on the Holidays." In order to subsidize the charitable work of Laws for the Claus, New York Santa charges a nominal appearance charge for Santa to appear at non-charitable events such as private parties, corporate parties, photo shoots, community festivals, commercials, etc. The funds received from these appearances go towards the expenses of the many non-compensated charitable appearances, so in essence, hiring Santa to appear at your private or corporate party, goes towards helping those less fortunate. New York Santa will not accept payment for charitable services. We love what we do, and it shows!! Each year, our Santa visits over 2,500 children. In 2004, our "real" Santa Claus began giving out gifts that were graciously donated by companies such as the Dakin/Applause Toy Company. They represent the true spirit of giving and are owed a big round of thanks. Santa is often asked by children if he is the "real Santa" Ø Do you believe in Santa? Well if you believe in something, does that make it real? Ø Touch my sleeve, does it feel real? Well if you can touch something, does that make it real? Ø Tell me about Santa, what do you know about him? Ø Does he make toys? I make toys (yes, our Santa does make toys and gifts all year long), does that make me Santa? Ø Does he deliver toys to thousands of children? I deliver toys to thousands of children, does that make me Santa? Ø Does Santa seem to appear in thousands of places at the same time? Ø Look all around you, how many places do you see Santa? Does that make me Santa? etc., etc. Ø Santa can make even the most cynical of children believe. And what's more important than extending the magic of belief for at least one more season? Is there a Santa Claus? Yes Virginia... yes there is. Am I Santa Claus? Unequivocally, yes I am. Fun Sites Come visit the dancing reindeer at http://web.icq.com/shockwave/0,,4845,00.swf Make sure to click on the reindeer to see them dance Come visit Budget Santa at www.BudgetSanta.com Come visit the Annual NORAD Tracks Santa Claus Website. Learn about NORAD and how they track Santa, as well as Santa's Secrets. Hourly updates on Santa sightings and Santa's progress at http://www.noradsanta.org/ Thanks I want to thank all of you who welcomed Santa into your hearts, your homes, to join in your holiday functions, and your facilities. Without you, Santa would just be another guy in a red and white fur suit, carrying a sack of goodies, wearing really heavy boots and a strange hat with a pom-pom at the end, well, you get the point, without you, Santa couldn’t see all the children that he does, for that I personally thank each and every one of you. A very special thanks to Para-Legal Patricia Florio www.KFLawNYC.com who always makes sure that Santa is where he is supposed to be, to Sally Unger, Esq., President the Queens Women's Bar Association, to Eugene Kahn of www.GreatKolor.NET for all his assistance, Adele of Adele's of Hollywood www.adelescostumes.com for some pretty amazing Santa suit updates, and Marty Singer and Phil Tudanger of J & R Music World (www.jr.com) for opening new doors and possibilities. New Venues and Announcement of a Santa Workshop This year, we were invited to several new venues, and our list keeps growing. During the coming "off season" I plan to hold a Santa workshop and invite representatives all past and hopefully future venues. It is our hope that together we can make future Santa visits easier and far more fun for everyone involved. If you are interested in attending, or know someone who might be, please eMail me at Santa and also check our website www.NewYorkSanta.com for updates. Photographs Due to the nature of many of the facilities Santa attends, for security reasons, we cannot publish many photographs to the web. Please contact us at Santa, for information pertaining to pictures at our functions. Television This year, look for our Santa to appear in area television commercials, yelevision interviews and on the internet. Light Reading We've been working on an instructional book to help make the better Santa's for the children of the world. While still in it's infancy, the manuscript is nearly ready to be sent to the editor, and will hopefully be published and available in time to be assistance to all for the coming Christmas season. If you are interested in obtaining a copy or know someone who might be, (it makes a great gift) please eMail Santa and watch our website www.NewYorkSanta.com for updates.
Santa was recently interviewed by CBS News in a discussion on how the slow economy is affecting Christmas.
To see the aired November 19th Early Show program, simply click on the following link.
http://www.cbsnews.com/video/watch/?id=4617089n
Santa had a one on one esclusive interview with Mike Jerrick from FOX 5 TV's Good Morning With Mike & Juliet as Santa stopped by the morning Show offices with a special message this holiday season.
http://www.mandjshow.com/blog/zat-you-santa/
If you've ever wondered if Santa Claus is real...
Well here's your answer.... You bet your Reindeer I'm real.
Santa has had the privilege and satisfaction of visiting children and delivering unexpected gifts throughout the New York City area for over a decade.