Toronto Star Santa Claus Fund
The Toronto Star Santa Claus Fund, established in 1906 by Joseph E. Atkinson, is part of The Toronto Star Children’s Charities. As a child, Mr. Atkinson knew of poverty first-hand, as he was the youngest of eight children growing up in a single-parent family after his father was killed in a work-related accident. When he became publisher of the Toronto Star, Mr. Atkinson appealed to Star readers to help contribute gifts to underprivileged children, to ensure no child would be without a gift at Christmas. This was the start of The Toronto Star Santa Claus Fund. Star readers responded generously at that time and have continued to do so every year for more than a century.