GREELEY (Colorado) TRIBUNE
December 20, 2009

1,000 kids expected at Migrant Christmas party

Annual event in its 12th year of giving

BY Sharon Dunn

Several local officials and business leaders will become Santa Claus today to help deliver presents in the Migrant Children Fiesta, now in its 12th year.

The fiesta, which will run from 2-5 p.m. today at Northridge High School, was created to provide gifts to migrant children and attracts more than 150 volunteers each year, including 18 to 20 Santas. The first celebration, founded by Adolph Diaz, helped 150 children.

It's expanded exponentially through the years as the fiestas have grown from Greeley to Fort Morgan, Fort Lupton and Burlington, giving presents to more than 14,000 children. The kids will be treated to entertainment, art and crafts, stories, free books, pictures with Santa and more.

Diaz created the fiesta because he saw so many migrant children getting used presents for Christmas, where they'd have to wash their toys before they could play with them. He decided then and there to give them something better. That first year he and a friend raised $500. The party has grown every year.

“My dad, he came from Mexico, and being (a migrant) at one time, from that point of view, I have a soft spot for that,” Diaz said. “That's what keeps me going. These kids are under-served, and we just need to help them. Help comes from the heart of people. You see a lot of smiles and happiness.”

Diaz and more than 150 volunteers help plan the fiesta every year beginning in August. They raise money and get donations from the likes of State Farm, Greeley-Evans School District 6, Centennial BOCES and The U.S. Marines' Toys for Tots program.

This year, celebrity Santas include Weld County Clerk and Recorder Steve Moreno, Weld District Attorney Ken Buck, Weld County Commissioner Sean Conway, former Greeley mayor Ed Clark, Pres Montoya, Carlos Leal, Juvenal Cervantes, Art Terrazas and more.

Diaz said community leaders leave their political concerns about immigration at the door and focus on giving the children a good day. Today, Diaz said anywhere from 600 to 1,000 kids may be at the party, coming from towns throughout northern Colorado, including Longmont.

The counts are significantly lower than in past years — they reached a high of about 2,200 kids about six years ago — likely because of the economy, where migrant labor hasn't been in high demand, and recent issues with immigration, such as the immigration raid on the JBS meatpacking plant in 2006.

The numbers have trickled down for some time, leaving many leftover presents from

previous Christmases. Diaz said leftover gifts are turned over each year to be given away the following year, which helps keep costs down. The party also raises money for student scholarships. Last year, he said, the party helped raise $5,000 for students scholarships, and he hopes to have the same amount this year.

“When my dad came here from Mexico, it gave us an opportunity here to be successful, and four of us went in for service,” Diaz said. “Through the GI Bill, we got a college education.”