“I love Christmas, and to be able to see the smiles on some of the children’s faces,” said Mary Stevenson, Director of Financial Stability for Hawthorne Community Center.
The IU Indianapolis Office of Community Engagement’s 25th annual Season of Giving brought holiday cheer to 66 families—122 community members—through partnerships with Christamore House Family and Community Center and Hawthorne Community Center. Members of the IU community and local partners came together to make this year’s program a success, demonstrating the power of generosity and connection.
“This is our second year supporting the Season of Giving,” said Jeremy Carter, Executive Associate Dean and Professor at the O’Neill School of Public and Environmental Affairs. “The O’Neill School is filled with faculty and staff that are always looking for ways to give back, and it’s great that the university partners with our community centers to provide a way to support families during the holidays. It’s a wonderful opportunity for people to bond together toward a good cause, and we hope it brings joy and happiness during what can be both a joyful and challenging time of year for many families.”
Sponsors—including individuals, departments, schools, student organizations, and community members—were paired with families identified by Christamore House and Hawthorne Community Center. Each family provided a wish list of toys, clothing, and household items, and sponsors were asked to spend a minimum of $75 per person to ensure every family received gifts that could bring warmth and joy during the holiday season.
Coverage by WRTV News highlighted the 25th Season of Giving, amplifying community partners’ voices and the importance of every contribution. La’Toya Pitts, CEO and Executive Director of Christamore House, shared with WRTV reporter Amber Grigley that “every donation counts, no matter how big, no matter how small.”
Student volunteer Habeebat Aminu, a junior who served as project coordinator for Season of Giving, played a vital role. She described her motivation in an interview with WRTV: “Growing up, I saw my mom giving all the time. She always told me, ‘Always give, no matter how little you have.’ That inspires me to contribute and help bring joy to others.” Aminu helped match families with sponsors and assisted with shopping, wrapping, and sorting gifts, exemplifying the spirit of service that drives the program each year.
Sharron Henderson, a pharmacist who partnered with Habeebat Aminu, said, “This is our first time joining Season of Giving, and we hope every family has a happy holiday. Being able to give back and add joy to someone’s life means so much to me.”
The 25-year initiative, with a long-standing history on the Near West Side of Indianapolis, once again brought the campus and community together. On Collection Day, Tuesday, December 9, 2025, IU Indianapolis staff, students, and community partners worked side by side to collect, sort, and prepare gifts, ensuring they were delivered with care to families served by Christamore House and Hawthorne Community Center. With support from Stuart’s Moving & Storage, an Indianapolis-based company that packs and delivers the gifts each year, the process ran smoothly.
For those inspired to participate in Season of Giving 2026, the Office of Community Engagement invites everyone to sign up. Every contribution—whether as an individual, as part of a team, or as a volunteer—helps make the holiday season brighter for our neighbors in Indianapolis.
Visit our website to learn more about the Season of Giving program and how to get involved. For additional information, contact Richard Bray at richbray@iu.edu or season@iu.edu.
