Skip to Content

The University of Texas at Austin

Orange Santa 2007

Orange Santa“Orange Santa” began in 1994 as a program designed to foster a caring environment by providing help for members of the university community who have needs during the holiday season. The program has grown greatly over time. In December 2006, Orange Santa served 410 families, providing multiple holiday gifts for about 1500 children.

The Orange Santa Holiday Store provides an opportunity for participating families to "shop" for children in their immediate family. The store is stocked with new, unwrapped gifts donated by the community. Gifts will be collected beginning on November 12, 2007 at all campus guard kiosks and at numerous “donation stations” in university offices. A listing of these locations can be found on the Web site, www.utexas.edu/events/orangesanta.

Additionally, many departments and units conduct donation drives collecting gifts at holiday parties or holding silent auctions to raise funds to be donated to purchase gifts. Notable among these are the efforts of the University Police Department, whose drive furnished bicycles and safety helmets for 200 children last year.

Longhorn Athletics also supports Orange Santa. They offer free admission to selected games in exchange for a donation to the program. This year those games will be:

Volleyball vs. Kansas State, Saturday, November 24 at 6:30 p.m., Gregory Gym
Women’s Basketball vs. UT-Arlington, Thursday, November 29 at 7:00 p.m., Erwin Center
Men’s Basketball vs. North Texas, Wednesday, December 5 at 7:00 p.m., Erwin Center

At noon on Friday, December 7 there will be holiday caroling on the West Mall led by choirs from the School of Music. There will be a replica Tower to be filled with toys and a visit by Orange Santa himself. This will be a final opportunity to donate to this year’s program before the gifts are distributed.

Starting on December 8 and continuing through December 11, the Holiday Store will be located in Bellmont Hall, Room 528, All shoppers must have completed the application process and been assigned a shopping time. Free parking will be provided for shoppers and volunteers will wrap gifts at the store.

Orange Santa provides both a resource for all current UT employees and students and also provides an opportunity for the university community to contribute and participate during a special season of caring on campus.

Eligibility for shopping in the Orange Santa Holiday Store is established through an application process coordinated by Human Resource Services. Income level is not a factor.  An applicant must be a current UT employee or student and be the parent or legal guardian of a child seventeen years old or younger. Members of the UT community are simply required to submit a completed application stating their interest in participating.

Applications in English and Spanish are available. Beginning about November 2, visit www.utexas.edu/events/orangesanta. Completed applications are submitted to:

Orange Santa
c/o Human Resource Services
North Office Building A
Campus Mail Code: J5600

Applications will be accepted beginning November 2. To be considered, all applications must be received no later than November 27, 2007.