150 Local Children Receive Holiday Gifts Through Substitutes for Santa

MYRTLE BEACH, S.C.— This holiday season is a little brighter for 150 Horry County children who participated in the annual Substitutes for Santa holiday shopping and entertainment excursion on Dec. 5, 2023, at the Fun Warehouse and nearby Walmart in Surfside Beach.

The children ages five through 12 were treated to an evening of roller skating and arcade games followed by shopping for their favorite wish list items. Volunteers helped students shop at Walmart for over $100 in gifts thanks to the generosity of community sponsors and donations. Students also received household necessities and books.

Substitutes for Santa is hosted by Grand Strand Young Professionals (GSYP) and the Myrtle Beach Area Chamber of Commerce (MBACC) in partnership with SOS Care.

MBACC President and CEO Karen Riordan thanked everyone from the community who participated in the event. “This unique holiday experience brings together our amazing volunteers and sponsors who play the role of Santa to ensure the holiday season is filled with cheer for some very special young ones. We appreciate all who contribute for their abundance of generosity.”

The nonprofit program works with Horry County Schools to identify elementary-aged students who may benefit from additional support during the holidays. All gifts are delivered directly to the schools and then distributed to parents and guardians.

Presenting sponsors are Ryan Korros Team, Carolina Cool, Grand Strand Optimist Club, and SkyWheel Myrtle Beach. Additional assistance to make the evening possible is provided by Fun Warehouse, Native Sons, Carolina Limousine & Coach, Two Men and A Truck, Pizza Hut, Jimmy John’s, Auntie Anne’s, and Nothing Bundt Cakes.

Supporting sponsors include Junior League of the Grand Strand, Spann Roofing, Grand Strand Health, The Jackson Companies, South Atlantic Bank, Carolina Home Exteriors, Black Dog Running Co., Conway National Bank, Truist, Corning Credit Union, Tidal Creek Brewhouse, Dr. Jen Orthodontics, Rivertown Dental Care, Crescent Realty, LLC, Publix, Dawn Wade - Keller Williams, Kiwanis Club of Myrtle Beach, WonderWorks, First Book of Horry County, Chappy Wrap, Food Lion, Coastal Networking Cooperative, 4Imprint, Sexton Dental, Meher Spiritual Center, Grand Palms Resort, Monarch Roofing, Happy Teeth Dentistry, Jefferies Socks, Fully Promoted, Pals Socks, Santee Cooper, Liberty Tax, Sawgrass Pediatric Dentistry, and Sackcloth and Ashes.

Anyone interested in getting involved in next year’s event, including participating in one of GSYP’s annual fundraisers, can visit GrandStrandYoungProfessionals.com to learn more.

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About Grand Strand Young Professionals:
The Grand Strand Young Professionals, a program of the Myrtle Beach Area Chamber of Commerce, was founded in 2008 as gsSCENE, a service-based organization for young professionals along the Grand Strand looking to network with likeminded people and give back to the community. GSYP offers monthly networking, education and community service opportunities for members between the ages of 21 to 40. For more, visit Facebook.com/GrandStrandYP.

Myrtle Beach Area Chamber of Commerce and Convention and Visitors Bureau:
Since 1938, the Myrtle Beach Area Chamber of Commerce (MBACC) has stood as the unified voice of the Grand Strand's business community — serving Myrtle Beach, North Myrtle Beach, Little River, Loris, Atlantic Beach, Carolina Forest, Conway, Aynor, Socastee, Surfside Beach, Garden City Beach, Murrells Inlet, Litchfield Beach and Pawleys Island. The U.S. Chamber of Commerce has awarded MBACC its five-star accreditation — one of only a few chambers in South Carolina to earn this distinction. The Myrtle Beach Area Convention and Visitors Bureau (CVB) and its destination marketing arm Visit Myrtle Beach promote tourism through various partnerships and initiatives to advance the economic success of the Grand Strand. For more information, visit MyrtleBeachAreaChamber.com, MyrtleBeachAreaCVB.com and VisitMyrtleBeach.com.