Santa PICsU is a 501(c)3 organization that brings the “Healing Power of Giving” to children and families in traumatic situations on a year-round basis.

In December of 2012 Tim Clepper and his wife Amy sat and watched a local newscast on a family whose child would be in the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU) for Christmas. The reality of this hit hard, being parents of three young children, and Tim was inspired to do something. It turned out that showing up at a hospital PICU with gifts for strangers was tougher than he realized. There was plenty of protocol and hoops to jump through. By the following year, dear friend Rick Malson (and his wife Ellen) joined the cause and the two visited the PICU on December 23. Nurses directed Tim and Rick to Child Life Services, paperwork was filled out, and a tour of the floor was given to determine what children were most in need. That year they “made Christmas happen” for one particular family in need. And thus, Santa PICsU was born.

Today, Santa PICsU, an official 501c3, pledges to “bring the healing power of giving to children and families in traumatic situations on a year-round basis”. Over the years the Christmas Eve delivery has grown to include a chef donated meal for PICU staff, continued gifts and needs met all through the year to families in traumatic situations, and larger donations directly to Akron Children’s Hospital including a refresh on the PICU waiting room, weigh beds, medical tools for doctors, ”The Good Cheer Fund” which allows for smaller purchases for the PICU throughout the year and most recently an ECMO simulator system and a Servo N ventilator for the NICU.

Santa PICsU pledges to continue to grow and assist families. We invite you to get involved with the organization and learn how you can help make a difference. We have two major events annually: “Christmas in July” which has evolved into a Summer BBQ cook off fundraiser and a Christmastime gathering that enables guests to directly contribute to the toy/gift buying by donating from a registry.

Finally, our goal is not for recipients/beneficiaries to know who we are, but instead have gifts “arrive” anonymously. Having been referred to as “the Navy SEALS” for the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit at Akron Children’s Hospital, Santa PICsU is steadfast in wanting to be the SPIRIT behind the “healing power of giving”.

We invite you to become a part of our amazing, homegrown, locally committed organization energized by the spirit of giving.