FRONT ROW: WARREN WILSON, IVY TUCKER, MAYAH “STRAIGHT OUTTA THE NORTH POLE,” MAGIC MIKE COBB, ARMY VETERAN TIM KEARNS, USAF VETERAN MICHAEL BOOKER. BACK ROW: ANITA DRUMMOND (MRS. CLAUS) AND DR. CHARLENE HILL-COLEMAN. (PHOTOS BY CHIEF IKHANA-HAL-MAKINA)
Achieving Greatness’ ‘Toys for Champions’ giveaway
It wasn’t the proverbial “Night Before Christmas.” As a matter of fact, it was just a few days before, December 20, 2025. But the end result was a Christmas miracle times 10 to say the least.
Clearly, Santa had no trouble finding the right location to make his delivery as he connected with “Super Elf” (aka “Super Sam,” the ultimate community leader) in the Pittsburgh region to help give over 500 boys and girls a very merry Christmas.
That specific dropoff was led in by Rudolph, no less, who happens to have the world’s greatest GPS system, and was sponsored by Achieving Greatness Inc., for its 51st consecutive year of providing toys for Pittsburgh-area boys and girls. Those areas include Penn Hills, Wilkinsburg, Homewood, Garfield, East Liberty, the Hill District, the North Side and others.
HOOKIN’ THE KIDS UP WITH FREE TOYS!
As you know, Christmas Day may in fact be the greatest business and private sector collaborative known to mankind (OK, maybe second or third to the start of civilization, Noah’s Ark or Super Bowl XIII when the Steelers put a stamp on their legendary football dominance by horse-whipping the Dallas Cowboys).
Anyway, “what had happened was,” in that collaborative none of this could have been accomplished in year “51” without the support, contribution, timing and sacrifice of Briggs Transport Company. As a matter of fact, Santa owes Briggs a little North Pole kickback because BTC moved the toys that Santa couldn’t on the second run.
THE KIDS LOVE THEIR TOYS!
BTW, the “Super Elf” we spoke of, “Super Sam,” aka “Ole Black Nick” is the closest thing to THE GREAT NORTH STAR that we have here in Pittsburgh. Great job, sir, job well done. (Now don’t get it twisted. The “Super Elf” helped us meet our objective in serving over 500-plus kids with 1,250 toys or more. But that doesn’t come close to the 5,000-plus he had to take care of the rest of the week…Give that elf a standing ovation!!!)
GET THE GOOD GUYS….AND THE FREE TOYS, TOO!
We also, and as always, want to thank the McDonald’s ownership, and our great friend Victor, the General Manager, at the McDonald’s restaurant at East Liberty Station on Penn Avenue, and his superior rock and roll showcase team at the restaurant for hosting and handling the enormous nonstop crowd at the Golden Arches on Dec. 20, 2025. And not just for the time invested, but taking care of the children and their families, feeding the children with special gift meals and making possible the huge donation of 20 dozen fantastic cookies from Nothin’ Basic Bakery in Glassport, Pa.
SANTA CLAUS! WITH THE KIDS AND SPECIAL GUEST, BASKETBALL STAR WARREN WILSON.
Needless to say, a special holiday thank you goes out to our ongoing Toys for Champions sponsors: Goodrich & Associates, Toys for Tots, Senator Jay Costa, UPMC, Diversified Municipals Services, the Lackner Group, Bowser Automotive of Monroeville, and “The Good Grinch” that keeps on giving, Frank B. Fuhrer Wholesale Co.
Happy New Year to all!
GET THE GOOD GUYS….AND THE FREE TOYS, TOO!
