Tulsa's Neediest Families Fund dates to 1928

By MIKE AVERILL World Staff Writer
Published: 11/26/2009 2:24 AM
Last Modified: 11/26/2009 4:26 AM

Related Story: Fund helped local family

Donate by credit card to the Neediest Families Fund Drive, read all the stories about this year’s spotlighted families and see the complete donor list

Before there was the Neediest Families Fund, there was the Santa Pal Project.

That effort was started in 1928 by The Tulsa Tribune as a way to provide gifts and food for needy families at Christmas.

In the first year, 50 families were profiled, and 25 were adopted.

Today, the Neediest Families Fund provides holiday assistance to thousands of Tulsans each year.

The Santa Pal Project was a chance for readers to adopt a family selected by the Family Welfare Society and meet that family's needs.

The first profile featured a boy and a girl who had been abandoned by their parents.

The story said the father was "somewhere in the oil fields," and the mother left them in the care of a relative who, in turn, left them with the Welfare Society to be raised.

"Hardly more than babies, they nevertheless feel themselves deserted, and sometimes cry with loneliness," the article states. "If some Tulsa Santa Claus could give these children warm clothing, they would appreciate it."

Another profile was of a family living in a tent with a father "racked by tuberculosis" and six children.

The father was a stablehand, and the mother took in laundry. They walked to The Salvation Army twice a week for food.

Because their tent was often damp, the family was asking for a floor.

"For Christmas, they ought to have clothing all around, some playthings for the youngsters and the floor in that tent," the article states.

By 1930, the campaign's name was changed to Neediest Families, and it became a partnership with Family and Children's Services and the Community Chest, which later became the United Way.

By 1939, the campaign had grown so much that readers were providing holiday assistance for 160 families.

In 1948, The Tulsa Tribune started its partnership with The Salvation Army. To this day, the money raised is turned over to that agency to care for the families it identifies as needy.

The Tribune closed in 1992, and the Tulsa World took over the tradition.

Since 1993, the Tulsa World has raised more than $4.4 million for needy families in Tulsa.

By MIKE AVERILL World Staff Writer

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Elusive, Owasso (9 months ago)

I'm sure the need will be even greater this year. Don't forget to give to those in need, you never know when it might be your own family through unemployment, medical crisis, etc.

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Corvetteguy, Tulsa (9 months ago)

absolutely a great endevor.

I wish the TW had kept publishing the names of donors, however............. Those who wished to be anonymous, always had that option.

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mayor_maynot, Tulsa (9 months ago)

Hordball in this world there are givers. It makesv givers feel good to give. That creates a whole feeling for the givers that can't be replaced by anything else. It is their opiate. Recievers, takers, needy folks however you want to categorize them; make the world complete for givers.

Happiness runs in a circular motion. Life is but a little boat upon the sea.
Evrybody is a part of evrythin anyway
You can have everything if you let yourself be
Donovan

sit down sit down sit down sit down .....sit down your rocking the boat.
Nicely Nicely Guys and Dolls.

Maybe a little corny but it speaks volumes.

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Corvetteguy, Tulsa (9 months ago)

I enjoy helping the homeless.

Could it be that some of the homeless are in that situation because of laziness........sure.

......But you know what,.....I don't really care. I do it because I think it's the thing for me to do. Someone put that in my heart.
I might suggest it to others,..... but would never force anyone else to help.

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Elusive, Owasso (9 months ago)

There will always be some that take advantage of the system but after working in Social Services for the Salvation for five years in the 80's I learned that many are truly in need and being able to help someone was a bigger reward than what they received. For many it's take courage to reach out and ask for help. These people give back to those organizations when they are in better financial shape because they understand many will hit a rough patch in their lives and need a little help to get back on their feet.

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