Other than being very large, the 17–foot Christmas tree, trimmed with angel ornaments, looks like most other trees. But it’s not. The ornaments on The Little Angel’s Christmas tree are more than just decorations — they contain the names and ages of children, their clothing sizes and gift ideas. Sponsored by the Campus Chapter of the BYU Management Society and the United Way, the goal is to undecorate the tree by 8 December.
BYU students, faculty, and staff are encouraged to pick an angel ornament from the tree in the atrium on the first floor of the Tanner Building. Next, purchase and wrap a gift. And, finally, deliver it to 490 TNRB no later than 5 p.m. on 15 December. Each child in the United Way Sub-For-Santa program will receive five presents: two clothing items, two toys and a book.
The BYU Management Society will deliver The Little Angel’s Christmas gifts to theSub-For-Santa families pre-screened by the United Way. “This is a great opportunity for the students and faculty to get involved and help members of our community,” said Joseph Ogden, advisor to the Management Society.
Members of the Management Society decorated the mammoth tree as a club activity. “I was hanging onto the stair railing, placing lights and ornaments on the tree as they rotated it,” said Greg Danklef, Management Society co-chair. “It was a lot of fun for us to decorate the tree, and we’re hoping this enthusiastic spirit of giving will spread throughout the business school.”
“Although a small act of service, it may redefine Christmas for some small child,” Danklef said. To make the Little Angel’s Christmas possible, the Management Society enlisted the help of local companies: Costco, Sears, Dillard’s, Pebbles in My Pocket, and JCPenney. These firms donated decorations, ornaments, ribbons, wrapping paper and poinsettias to adornthe tree.
Cassie Harmer, chair of the Little Angel’s Christmas project, said, “I hope we can get as excited about giving as we know these little children will be about receiving our gifts on Christmas morning.”
The Marriott School is located at Brigham Young University, the largest privately owned, church-sponsored university in the United States. The school has nationally ranked programs in accounting, business management, information systems, organizational behavior and entrepreneurship. The mission of the Marriott School is to educate men and women of faith, character and professional ability who will become outstanding managers and leaders throughout the world. Approximately 3,000 students are enrolled in the Marriott School’s graduate and undergraduate programs.
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Writer: Jenny Stathis
