By Peaches Calhoun

Hundreds of tiny lights adorn your favorite tree. The warmth you feel on the outside pales in comparison to the warmth of love you experience on the inside as you sit in awe of your family’s best efforts to create your chosen holiday décor. You and your loved ones are together, and all of your holiday “T’s” and “I’s” have been crossed and dotted. Exhale and sip your eggnog or favorite traditional beverage while you smile, taking in the seasonal atmosphere at home. When all the boxes have been checked and every pine needle has been straightened, you have officially reached what Phoenixx Sky Financial calls the “White Gloves Approach.” This means that everything is as flawless as possible.

Phoenixx Sky Financial’s charitable initiative, Phoenixx Sky Gives Back, orchestrated a heartwarming fundraiser titled the “Light Up a Life Christmas Tree Project.” The Anderson Kids of Canal Winchester, who serve as dedicated board members for the charity, recognized an important truth: while holiday rituals are routine and effortless for some, there are families in need that struggle to bring all the pieces together.

Often, families have access to resources for food, clothing, and toys, but the simple joy of having a Christmas tree adorned with presents beneath it plays a vital role in creating the enchanting spirit of the holiday season.

In January 2024, when asked to share their experiences about what they had received under the Christmas tree during the holiday break, some of John and Phoenixx’s classmates articulated a stark reality. Many students came from families facing tough financial choices, often forced to choose between the warmth of a Christmas tree or the excitement of a present, frequently unable to afford both.

Twelve-year-old Phoenixx Anderson passionately stated, “Our Light Up a Life Christmas Tree goal is to provide as many Christmas trees as possible to those in our community who need one but cannot afford it.” This sentiment resonated during the Firefighter Toy Drive held on December 12th, where attendees were pleasantly surprised to select from an array of artificial trees, ranging impressively from 6 to 9 feet in height. One community member, filled with gratitude, exclaimed, “Thank you so much! I thought I was signing up just for toy assistance, but now I’m on my way home to surprise my family with a whole Christmas tree!” Twelve Christmas trees were donated on that very cold night.

As the plea for trees continued to pour in, even after the initial donations had dwindled, the Anderson Kids of Canal Winchester found themselves inundated with requests from various individuals, organizations, and even their own school, which identified families in need of a tree to bring festive joy into their homes. The Anderson kids turned to their community once more. Four eager children with a dream relied on their community, and the community didn’t let them down. In turn, the Anderson Kids of Canal Winchester didn’t let their school and community down either.

John W. Anderson III (13), Phoenixx M. Anderson (12), Joziah Anderson (5), and Xara Anderson (4), affectionately known as the Anderson Kids of Canal Winchester, truly embody the spirit of Phoenixx Sky Gives Back. They tirelessly dedicate their time and effort to ensure that families are spared from the heart-wrenching dilemma of choosing between the gift of a present or the warmth and wonder of the holiday spirit in their homes.

Through the generosity of their community, the young members of Phoenixx Sky Gives Back received donations of 22 beautifully crafted Christmas trees, along with an abundance of unique and sentimental ornaments to create festive magic and bring the trees to life once again, with some coming from lives now past.

In a truly selfless act, the Anderson Kids also contributed three of their own cherished Christmas trees and special ornaments, further enriching the spirit of giving in their community. Eighth-grade student John W. Anderson III, a chair member of Phoenixx Sky Gives Back, said, “No matter your religious beliefs, one thing that we can all agree on is that we are stronger together in numbers when we link arms, neighbor to neighbor.” 

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