The giving season brought something special to metro Phoenix in 2025: the 25th anniversary of Operation Santa Claus.
Sanderson Ford and ABC15, continuing their goal of supporting families and children in need, are marking 25 years of making spirits bright through their annual charity event.
Since its inception, Operation Santa Claus has raised more than $15 million in food, toys, children’s clothing and money for local Arizona nonprofits that benefit these families directly.
As a Phoenix-headquartered company, U-Haul® has been sponsoring Operation Santa Claus for many years to ensure longtime business partner Sanderson Ford® and ABC15 can help more at-risk children experience the joy and excitement of Christmas.
U-Haul served as title sponsor of Operation Santa Claus for the fourth year in a row in 2025. Since early November, 11 U-Haul centers spread across the Valley served as drop-off locations for new toys, children’s clothing items and non-perishable packaged food items.
U-Haul Moving and Storage of Fountain Hills assistant manager Joy Turner, whose store has served as a drop-off point all four years, noted: “We’re receiving lots of love for Operation Santa Claus again this year. We appreciate being involved and it really feels good to see people give back to the community.”
Investing in the Community
Donations also poured in fromArizona-based U-Haul Team Members, with opportunities to give at the Shoen Family Conference & Fitness Center at U-Haul International in Midtown Phoenix as well as the U-Haul Technical Center in Tempe.
In addition, U-Haul made a $30,000 monetary donation to the cause again this year.
“The success of Operation Santa Claus is all about relationships, we couldn’t do it without our title sponsor U-Haul,” said David Kimmerle, President of Sanderson Ford and Sanderson Lincoln. “The substantial cash donation and the use of eight U-Haul trucks to pick up and deliver donations over six weeks is extremely valuable and cannot be understated.
“We really appreciate the commitment U-Haul makes to Operation Santa Claus every single year.”
Thanks to generous communities across the Valley, Operation Santa Claus raised over $900,000 for six local nonprofits: St. Mary’s Food Bank; The Southwest Autism Research and Resource Center; Military Assistance Mission; Special Olympics Arizona; New Life Center; and Sleep in Heavenly Peace.
The U-Haul Community Relations team joined representatives from each of the benefiting charities, Sanderson Ford, ABC15, and other Operation Santa Claus partners on Dec. 18 in Glendale to load all the donations into U-Haul trucks for distribution. Everyone lined up to form a human chain for fast, efficient loading. Even Santa was there to help.
“I had a great time volunteering at Sanderson Ford for Operation Santa Claus. I was alongside many others from organizations receiving donations through the annual charity event,” said Miranda Luna, U-Haul Community Relations Specialist. “Together we packed several U-Haul trucks full of donations that were delivered to the participating charities. The experience was very fulfilling. It was inspiring to see the Valley come together to support those in need.”
To learn more about Operation Santa Claus and charities it supports visit givetotheclause.org.
U-Haul Drop-off Locations
A special thanks to the U-Haul centers and their staffs that served as drop-off points for gifts:
U-Haul Moving and Storage of Ahwatukee
4229 East Chandler Blvd.
Ahwatukee, AZ 85048
GM: Tony Scozzari
U-Haul Moving and Storage of Anthem Way
42301 North 41st Drive
Anthem, AZ 85086
GM: Bill Kiff Jr.
U-Haul Moving and Storage of Fountain Hills
9264 Technology Drive
Fountain Hills, AZ 85268
GM: Christopher Young
U-Haul Moving and Storage of Gilbert Heritage District
1230 North Gilbert Road
Gilbert, AZ 85234
GM: Dee Loggins
U-Haul Moving and Storage at 67th and Bell
6544 West Bell Road
Glendale, AZ 85308
GM: Dante Shumate
U-Haul Moving and Storage at Estrella Mountain
1126 North Citrus Road
Goodyear, AZ 85338
GM: Dakota Halbert
U-Haul Moving and Storage of Lehi
219 East McKellips Road
Mesa, AZ 85201
GM:Sean Nelson
U-Haul Moving and Storage of Power Ranch
7125 South Power Road
Queen Creek, AZ 85142
FRM: Hannah Daugherty
U-Haul Moving and Storage of Pinnacle Peak
7300 East Adobe Drive
Scottsdale. AZ 85255
GM: Robert Goodman
U-Haul Moving and Storage of Sun City West
13420 West Bell Road Suite 100
Surprise, AZ 85378
GM: Manny Granillo
U-Haul Moving and Storage at Tempe Town Lake
800 North McClintock Drive
Tempe, AZ 85288
GM: Jazmin Flores
