My journey into this mission didn’t start with a business plan — it started with a glance, a wink, and a whisper:
"Mom… is he Santa?"
I’ve heard that question more times than I can count. And I’ve always answered the same way — with a twinkle in my eye and a quiet reply to the grown-up next to them:
"Don’t worry, I’ll be checking in to make sure they still belong on the Nice List."
But The Kringle Cause didn’t begin just because I look the part. It started generations ago with my great-grandfather, who was one of the original Santas in Mesa, Arizona’s Thanksgiving Parade. That tradition, that heart for children, carried down through my family, and eventually landed right in the center of mine. I'm now a father of five, and my life has always revolved around children — not just my own, but those in my community, my church, and my career.
Over the years, I’ve had the privilege of serving as a Boy Scout and Cub Scout leader, a Primary teacher at church, and most recently as a Registered Behavioral Therapist (RBT), working one-on-one with children on the autism spectrum. That experience changed me. There is a special kind of magic that happens when a child, especially one with unique challenges, feels seen, safe, and celebrated. And there’s a special kind of ache that comes from knowing so many children go without that.
When I stepped away from my work as an RBT, I felt a deep emptiness — like part of my purpose had gone quiet. But the dream of something bigger had already started taking root. I wanted to create a way for people with cognitive or physical challenges to feel empowered and valued. I wanted them to have meaningful work — something joyful and dignified. And at the same time, I wanted to bring love and comfort to children facing incredibly hard situations: abuse, neglect, foster care, long hospital stays, and heartbreaking diagnoses.
That’s where the idea for The Kringle Cause was born. A year-round mission rooted in Christmas spirit — one that creates space for adults with disabilities to craft handmade gifts and toys, and deliver them (sometimes with Santa himself) to the children who need them most. A mission that says, you matter, you belong, and you are loved — to both the givers and the receivers.
This isn’t just a nonprofit. It’s a cause. It’s a calling. And it’s personal.
