Day One’s ‘Cherishing Children’ Christmas Event Marks 15th Anniversary with Snowy Delight, Heartwarming Stories

Day One in Pasadena is celebrating the 15th anniversary of its annual “Cherishing Children” Christmas event, a heartwarming tradition born out of community needs, on Friday, Dec. 15, from 5 to 9 p.m. 

What started as a toy drive has evolved into a holiday festival where families gather in a winter wonderland in Day One’s expansive yard just across the street from City Hall.

Christy Zamani, Day One Executive Director, recalls the beginnings of “Cherishing Children” when the community’s kids said they not only desire for toys but also the wish to experience snow. 

“In planning the toy drive, the students started mentioning that they’ve never seen snow, and we were like, ‘okay, well, let’s get snow!’” Zamani said.

“In the first year, I remember we ordered five tons of snow thinking it’s going to be this giant snow that ended up being like a puddle. So we all just laughed and we made the best of it. Back then, it was all about outreach and engagement: ‘let’s see how we can get people here, the people who need this the most.’ Now we only put it out there a week before the event. Parents start calling us a month before to say, ‘can we start registering now?’ So we have a line around the fence now, which is a beautiful problem to have.”

Now, with over 20 tons of snow, the event on Friday will include activities like sliding down snowy slopes, making snowballs, hot cocoa, ornament making, photos with Santa, and even picture frame crafting with the Armory Center for the Arts.

Zamani said the community’s involvement, with partners like Sparks of Love and Toys for Tots contributing toys, and local businesses collaborating, has made the event even more special. 

“We just have so many different friends that help collaborate with us now, and the students do an amazing job of getting out there to have toys collected,” Zamani said. “Again, Spark of Love gives us toys, Toys for Tots gives us toys, and then we try to collect with our partners throughout the city as well. So it really is a village approach to making this happen.” 

The demand for the event has grown each year, with this year’s edition seeing higher participation than ever before. Like all previous Cherishing Christmas events, the event on Friday is free to enter. Even when toy supplies may seem depleted, Day One ensures that no family leaves without something special. 

“I’ll never forget when a mom came and found me at an event, and she said, ‘I just wanted to say thank you so much. I lost my job just a couple months ago. I didn’t really have any savings and we weren’t going to have a holiday, and thank you for this.’” Zamani said. “This made it really, really special. That’s just one moment that really stands out to me, and it just brings you to tears because you don’t know what people are going through or what’s happening. And if we as a community can help each other to make lives easier for each other, that’s what we should be doing.” 

Out of the many families Day One has been able to help, some have become the organization’s biggest advocates and bring in toys for the event to show they’re thankful and to pay it forward. 

“And that’s what it is: we take care of each other,” Zamani said. “And I think Pasadena does such a good job about doing that. We really do look out for our neighbors and take care of each other. So really that’s the magic of the holidays.” 

Day One welcomes contributions from those looking to get involved. Donations can be made online at www.godayone.org/cherishingchildren2023, where supporters can either contribute directly or choose from a wishlist for convenient toy shipments. 

The organization also welcomes in-person donations at their office at 175 N. Euclid Ave. in Pasadena.