Newport Beach Fire Santa 2023

Help the Newport Beach Firefighters raise money for the 2023 Fire Santa Recipient - The Jordan Family

Laurie Jordan is a local widowed Grandmother raising her three grandchildren ages 3, 5 and 8 years-old on her own. She is a strong independent woman who took over as the children’s legal guardian with the recent unexpected death of their mother (her daughter) and only parent. Therapy has become a weekly activity to help the family navigate through their grief and new reality.

Two of the children attend Newport Heights elementary with education being a household priority. They are spoken highly of from both faculty and peers and Laurie’s effort has been noted as well for their attendance, academics and pleasant nature.

With the recent increase in financial hardship Laurie has taken up washing boats in Newport Harbor to get by. She is a very proud woman and doesn’t complain or ask for handouts. Circumstances have left her no choice but to accept all help, financial and otherwise.

This holiday season her wish is to restore her grandkids beautiful smiles that have been dulled from traumatic events that no child should have to experience.

Every year the Newport Beach Fire Firefighters adopts a local family during the Christmas season through our Fire Santa Program. Our goal has always been to extend our service to the community we already serve by assisting those families who are unable to support themselves due to extenuating circumstances.

This program started 18 years ago with the idea of helping a child / children to receive everything they would want for Christmas.(Christmas tree, gifts, Christmas dinner, decorations, etc.) throughout the entire month of December. What we found is that there was SO much more that these families needed. This quickly became our primary focus. We have completed everything from total home remodels, months worth of groceries, job placement and paying off medical bills or rent checks to avoid eviction.

We always conclude each year with a check made out to the family we serve. Although the tasks are different every year, the one remaining constant is the enormous impact our family / community can make to the family we serve. This year is turning out to be no exception.