Summer Santa's all-volunteer staff debuted a new event — The Summer Santa Flipping for Kids Pancake Supper. We had no way of knowing what to expect. Here's Summer Santa Co-Founder Dave Lieber's photo blog of the event. Please share the link and visit SummerSanta.org for great information about our all-volunteer charity.
Our Honorary Chairman for the event was former Dallas Cowboys star Russell Maryland who supports SummerSanta.org. This autographed ball was a big raffle item for the event. Watch the remarks by Russell Maryland at the event here.
Former Summer Santa Treasurer Sally Simpson and former Chairman Lori Burr (right) welcomed the many pancake lovers who attended. Burr was a key innovator of this new event.
Reggie Lyon (left) of Southlake greets Summer Santa. Mr. Lyon donated money to send two area kids to summer camp this summer. That's two kids of the 300 we expect to send.
Even the press knows how to dress for a Summer Santa event. Thank you Southlake Journal for “coming in uniform!”
Russell Maryland was a big hit the moment he walked in.
Oh, and the good ladies from the Greater Southlake Women's Society dropped by and donated a check for $5,000 for our summer camp fund. Wow!
Russell Maryland signs a Summer Santa football for Lauren Ward of Fort Worth.
A happy Lauren Ward with her souvenir.
Mike Farhat (left) is one of the original board members of Summer Santa from the charity's first years in the late 1990's. He talks with Summer Santa Camp Director Susan Merrill outside Nelson's restaurant.
Russell Maryland and Summer Santa Co-Founder Brad Bradley.
Joe King, leader of the great charity Kids Matter International, visited with wife Sandy.
Best-selling author Allison Bottke (left) and Sara Miller, a quilting author, greet Summer Santa.
Kris Segelstrom (left) head of Summer Santa's back-to-school clothing program, and Diana Reyes, head of the successful 2010 Summer Santa Toy Drive, worked the tables.
We kept track of our fundraising by counting pancakes. Every $250 donation meant another kid goes to camp. The pancake tower kept growing, and more kids get to go to camp
Austin Lieber, son of Summer Santa Co-Founder Dave Lieber, has been attending and helping at Summer Santa event his whole life. He was born the same year Summer Santa was created in 1997.
Nelson's got pretty crowded.
Russell Maryland ate a few pancakes and signed autographs all night long.
He was patient with everyone and answers all questions.
Russell Maryland even brought along another former Cowboys star, Tony Tolbert!
Summer Santa Board member Dan Holmes of Southlake (left) and Event Coordinator Lori Burr.
Summer Santa Chairwoman Sue Howery gave Russell Maryland our 2010 “Caring for Kids” award. Well deserved!
