Cornell University The Elves Program

Here are early posts of the activities of the Elves programs

You can read more recent posts on our Happenings page.

2015 Elf Packages Ready to be Delivered

December 2015 Newark Valley Paddle Party Surpasses Goal
Penny Lane Spoonhower, Newark Valley Elf Leader, reports that their annual "Paddle Party" raised $2,082, enough to sponsor 13 needy children, the best year so far. Here's how it works: vendors donate auction items from their companies. Participants pay a $5 entrance fee and are provided with 4 bidding paddles. Guests may bid on an item using 1, 2, 3, or 4 paddles. Each paddle is a 25 cent bid. Quarters are placed in a cup on eachtable, and paddles are raised to indicate they've placed a bid using that paddle. Numbers are drawn from the "master bucket" until there is a winner.

Synchrotron Elves Buy Bikes (and more)

Four year ago the Elves at the Cornell Laboratory for Accelerator-based Sciences and Education (CLASSE) decided to not get each other gifts and instead participate in The Elves Program. They now have a holiday luncheon and wrap the presents together. Here's a quote and picture from that group regarding an unusual (and very pleasant) situation this year. "This year our family wanted bikes! So we opened up our participation CLASSE-wide and individuals could donate toward 3 bikes. We had one CLASSE employee who donated two new bikes so we only had to purchase one bike and because we believe in safety we also purchased 3 helmets! With the department wide generous donations we also partially helped with 2 other children and donated $173.54 to the central program to be used for other children."

Betty Blue Fundraiser sponsors five children, raises over $600

Blanket Bee A Big Success!
The Elves' First Annual Blanket Bee was held on Saturday, November 7, 9 AM - 5 PM, at DeWitt MiddleSchool after a power outage at Ithaca High School forced a last minute change of venue. The hard work of three generations of Elves (60 people) produced a blanket every 2.2 minutes. There will be 220 needy area kids whowill have a cuddly and warm winter this year. The blankets will be distributed to needy children in our area schools as part of our Winter Holiday Program. Many people deserve recognition for the success of this project, starting with Joanna Bock, project leader, and to her family members which include her granddaughters! Also, Helen Perl and the IHS Key Club and Honor Society members she brought from played a large role. Thanks also to the folks who lugged bolts of material, did the cutting and pinning, packaging and boxing. Special thanks to our room of people who brought their sewing machines to sew edges and complete the blankets. Also, custodian Carleen Corey was great. Tom Ruscetti and Jeff Lang brought fiddle and banjo to play music which made things more fun. We plan to repeat the event next year!

Cutting Fabric	Sewiing
Packed Up	Delivery

Fall 2015 Backpack Program a Success
We had great feedback include this comment regarding all the backpacks that were delivered this year:
"I was blessed with a tremendous amount of donations from the community this year. Maybe because they realize that three of my four schools are in one school district. I dropped off 105 backpacks to them and the social worker told me that she went to the local trailer park where she KNEW that many of the kids lived and when she opened her car doors and trunk, it brought tears to her eyes as the kids couldn't figure out which one to choose! They were SO excited. And THAT's what makes this program worthwhile."

Thanks from Groton Schools
The Backpack program continues to make an impact at area schools.

The Elves Launch the KozyKids Project
Sometimes it is the simplest things that can make a big difference. A warm blanket to snuggle with can help make cold days more comfortable. This new initiative will be particularly useful if next year’s winter is anything like last year’s with the coldest month ever recorded in the area. If you would like to participate contact Joanna using the information on the poster.

2014 Elf Program Presents

Newark Valley Gifts

Even More Presents

Newark Valley Elves Holiday Paddle Party

This annual event continues this year with more fun and gifts.

2014 Fall Backpack Season Continues

Backpacks for Dryden students.	90 backpacks were delivered to Dryden schools.
Nearly 50 backpacks were sent to benefit Newark Valley students.
CFCU Community Credit Union donates 88 backpacks!	Cornell's Johnson Museum backpacks for 2014.

Elves Backpack program for Fall 2014 is in full swing.

CFCU Community Credit Union Helps Bring in Backpack Supplies
CFCU reached out to the Tompkins County community, and encouraged all who attended CFCU's Shred Day event to bring donations of school supplies. CFCU was able to collect over 95 items to donate to the Summer Backpack Program at Cornell. Here is some of what they collected.

United Auto Workers Local 2300 donates $1000 to the Elves program. Thank you again UAW 2300!!

Left to right, the UAW staff members are: Chris Johnson, Ronda Park, Lesley Finch, Mike Shaw, Mr. Elf, and Terry Sharpe. Chris is co-editor of Bear Facts; Ronda is Financial Secretary; Lesley is Benefits Rep; Mike is Peer Counselor and Terry is the Local President.

"A portion of our dues money goes to assistance for families and children. We were happy to be able to donate $1,000 to the Elves and thank them heartily for all their hard work. We're impressed every cent goes to the mission of providing clothing and school supplies (and a few toys) for children in area schools." -Terry Sharpe

Newark Valley Elves Holiday Paddle Party / Quarter Auction

Skip the car wash and bring your rolls of quarters to the Newark Valley Elves holiday party to win some great items.

Save the Dates, Betty Blue Fundraiser and Elmira Heights gift wrapping party.

The annual Elves fundraiser at the Betty Blue will be Friday, December 6th. Also those in the Elmira Heights area can join the gift wrapping party on December 14th.

August 2013

Successful 2013 Backpack Season, 800+ backpacks delivered

Geneva Backpacks

Virgil Backpacks

The 2013 Backpack program had great support. It included a whopping 90 backpacks delivered to the Dryden Central School system and another 67 backpacks delivered to Smith Elementary in Cortland. Dozens of backpacks sent to other area schools brought the total up to over 800. We also welcome the New York State Agricultural Experiment Station community who joined the program for the first time. They sent 34 fully stocked backpacks to Geneva schools. NYSAES Blog post.
We received positive comments from many participants and school administrators including the following letter from Angela Wanish, principal of the Smith School in Cortland:

"Just the other day during our morning arrival time, I watched two children comparing and their backpacks. They were busy showing one another all the extra zippered compartments that made their backpack special. One of the children proudly announced that she had gotten her backpack right here at school. Thank you to you and your organization for making this possible. It is always a delight to watch as the children come in to choose their bags, carefully looking over the selection and comparing features. The backpack giveaway has become an annual tradition that so many of our families have come to depend on. We are so fortunate to be a part of this program. Please extend our heartfelt thank you to all those who have helped to make this possible."

United Auto Workers Local 2300 votes to donate $500 to the Elves Summer Backpack program. Thank You UAW 2300!!

July 2013

CFCU Community Credit Union Selects The Elves as Charity of the Month

Rebecca Roberts, Executive Assistant to the President and CEO of CFCU recently announced that their organization is supporting the Elves Summer Backpack Program as one of their two charities of the month during July! They will use teller donation jars to collect money and match employee donations dollar for dollar. In addition, CFCU will make a donation for every "like" they receive on their Facebook page. CFCU Facebook page

April 2013

Elf Founder Bill Alberta wins George Peter Award.

Mary Opperman presenting a letter from President Skorton honoring Bill Alberta.

On April 23, 2013 Bill Alberta was presented with the George Peter Award at a surprise ceremony. This award is given to Cornell staff members who prove their willingness to extend themselves to help others. The presentation featured many of the Elf Leaders that Bill helped to inspire. May 2, 2013 Pawprint article about the event

December 2012

More Record Breaking Elf Deliveries

Virgil Elementary School packages

BJM Elementary School packages

Karen Snover-Clifts living room got a bit crowded with bags of gifts for kids at Virgil Elementary School.

Elf Leaders Brigid Beachler & Jo Hagin, along with Elf Assistant Pam Staub delivered bags of gifts for 103 children to Beverly J. Martin Elementary School, a new program record. They report being "tired but happy Elves".

Cornell University Elf Work In Materials Science & Engineering
C.U. Materials Science & Engineering Bulletin Board

Our theme is "Elf on a String" (of lights). The Elf starts out dangling precariously from the bottom light bulb as if he's struggling to reach the first dollar milestone. Each subsequent light bulb has a dollar value assigned to it. As donations are received the Elf moves up the string of lights sitting on the light that marks the amount of the current total donations. In addition, his stack of presents grows higher as the Elf climbs up the string of lights. This year, we surpassed our goal, and the stack of presents went "over the top". We planned to adopt 3 children and we actually were able to adopt 5. - Tammy L. Wildenstein

Cornell University Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering helps the elves.

C.U. Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering Bulletin Board

CU Elves CBE Style ~ Each year, the School of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering adopts approximately three children to support through the CU Elves program. A flyer is designed, distributed in mailboxes, and posted around the building. Multiple emails serve as reminders for program specifics and deadlines. Donations and gifts are collected in both the finance and business offices where child profiles are displayed. New this year (2012), an Elves bulletin board was created to serve as an interactive visual, set up in the main office to remind faculty, staff, and students to support the program. For every $20 raised, givers were offered the option of hanging either a gold or green money ornament on the Elves bulletin board tree display. The goal was to fill the entire tree! Not only was Team CBE able to reach its goal of sponsoring three children, but the tree was so full that the department exceeded its goal by two children! Team CBE concluded the Elves season with a staff wrapping party and delivered the gifts to their appropriate Elf Leader! Way to go, Team CBE! Thank you for making the season a bit brighter for five special kiddos! - Olivia Cully

Successful Fundraiser at the Betty Blue!

Bill & Joanne, Owners of the Betty Blue

Billy, Kyle & Brandon Guest Bartenders

Friday, December 7th the Betty Blue in Moravia held a fundraiser for the Cornell Elves Program. The owners Bill & Joanne Badman have done this event for the past 3 years. This year they had special guest bartenders and also sold snowflakes and the money that was raised went to the program. The fundraiser went from 7-10 p.m. We raised $1238.84 that went to needy children at Moravia Central School. Thank you to Bill & Joanne for supporting this community event again this year and sponsoring so many needy children in the area! - Valerie Kelly, Elf Leader for Moravia

December 2012 Fundraising Bazaar

As the Elves Program gears up for the season we are fundraising with a Holiday Shopping Bazaar, Sunday, December 9, 2012, 11 AM - 3 PM at the Newark Valley Fire Station.
Come, browse and do some holiday shopping! You will find local vendors from Scentsy, Miche, pampered chef, Vantel pearls, Tupperware, Silpada, cookie lee, tastefully simple, Kelly and company photography, curl up & dye, Mary Kay and many more.
There will be pulled pork bbq dinners available at noon until they are gone - sponsored by the Newark Valley wrestlers club. We will also be raffling off a gift basket, which contains products donated by the vendors. All proceeds will be donated to the Cornell Elves program.
A free gift wrapping table and children's activity corner will be set-up so parents can enjoy a "worry free" shopping experience.

December 2012 Thanks

November 2012, Elves in the news

On November 27th the principal of the Elmira Heights school was interviewed on the WENY-TV morning show and discussed the Elves program and its history. Thanks for the press!

September 2012 Thanks and Praise!

The backpack program receives thanks after another succesful year:

"Thank you so much for including Dryden in the backpack program again this year. You cannot imagine the smiles on the faces of these young students when they get a new backpack with all the great supplies inside. On Tuesday I had a third grader come to me because his used backpack was literally falling apart and he asked if I could help him. I had 1 backpack left and you would have thought it was Christmas. He left with a huge smile and another positive connection to his school. The generosity of your staff is so appreciated by the students, parents and staff at Dryden Elementary School. Each year I am overwhelmed by the number of backpacks we get. I think this school year we have given away from 60-70 backpacks." Mary Hicks, Dryden Elementary School.

"I just want to thank you personally for the kindness you and the Elves spread.  I wish you could see the excitement on the parent’s faces when they see the packages that have been left by the elves." Christine Laughlin, RN, Newfield Elementary School.

December 2011

December 17-	CORNELL COHEN SCHOOL ELVES DROP-OFF & DESSERT-TO-PASS-PARTY! You are invited to join the Cornell Cohen School Elves for a Drop-Off & Dessert-to-Pass-Party on Saturday, December 17 from 1:30-3:30pm in the DeLorme Room at Oakwood United Methodist Church in Elmira Heights. Everyone and anyone is invited and Heights sponsors can bring their wrapped or unwrapped gifts and enjoy the spirit of the holiday! Please RSVP to Cindy DeLorme Greco by December 15 to cindy.greco@cornell.edu. See you at the Party! Thanks so much ~ Cindy DeLorme Greco, Elf Leader for Elmira Heights Elementary School
December 8 -	The Elf Mobile rolled out yesterday afternoon and made a very large delivery to Enfield Elementary School.Thank you so much for your generosity in participating this year in the Elves Program. Your participation will brighten this Holiday Season for a child (children) in Enfield.  Because of your support and the support of others, we were able to provide gifts for 36 children through the Enfield Elementary School this year.  We really appreciate your effort and hope you enjoyed your experience as an Elf. Many of you sponsored children with friends, family members, and colleagues whose names we do not know.  We hope you will forward this message on to them and extend our sincere thanks to all of them. Wishing you a very Happy Holiday Season! The Elf Team Leaders for the Enfield School Pat Avery, Lori Asperschlager & Angelica Hammer
December 4 -	Newark Valley held its first annual Vendor Craft Show on Sunday, December 4 from 11am-2pm at the Newark Valley Fire Station.  Vendors provided a portion of their profits to help support children through the Cornell Elves Program.  We had vendors like Pampered Chef, Kelly Mann Photography, Scentsy, Thirty-one, Vantel Pearls, Cookie Lee, Italiano Bakery and many many more.  This show raised $480 which will sponsor 5 Newark Valley Children this year.  A very special thank you to Erin Short and Cheri Sigmund who gave so much to make this such a great success!  It is magnificent to not only have Cornell’s support, but to have community support as well.  Many thanks to all!
December 2 -	Valerie Kelly, Elf Leader for Moravia Middle School, writes: This is the 2nd year that the Betty Blue in Moravia sponsored a fundraiser for the Cornell Elves Program. We had 4 guest bartenders who helped Birley bartend : Chris, Rocky, Andy & John. The event was Friday, December 2nd from 7-9 p.m. We raised $567 in two hours and the Betty Blue matched that for a total of $1134!! This money will be used to sponsor 10 children in Moravia Central School and any left over money will go to the Superintendent to support children in the Middle School. Thanks to everyone who came to show their support!

November 2011

	Jacob Sneva, Director of the Cornell Tradition Program in the Cornell Commitment Office, and the Cornell Tradition Elves recently held a bake sale fundraiser on Ho Plaza. Despite having to face a chilly, rainy day, they raised $130, enough to sponsor a child entirely. They will also shop for several other children, using money donated by other Elves.
November 27 -	Europa Hagarman, Zumba instructor in Spencer, and Hilary Alve-Schilling held a "Zumbathon Fundraiser for the Elf Program" the Sunday after Thanksgiving. They created a Facebook event to raise awareness: "Come join Hilary and Europa on Sunday, November 27th for a calorie blasting Zumbathon and work that Thanksgiving feast clean off! Two full hours of sweaty good fun with your favorite hip shaking, tassel swinging, Zumba lovin' ladies!" They raised almost $400!
November 11 -	Bake sale in the Statler Hall's Atrium starting at 9am until sold out. If anyone would like to donate any baked items please contact Michelle (mlz2) or Melissa (mlb67).
November 12 -	Fundraiser at the bar called The Ridge in Lansing, 1100 Ridge Road (34B), 2:00pm until close. Michelle will be bartending and donating all her tips to the Elf program. Also we will also be collecting NEW unwrapped toys. There will be: 50/50 raffle, door prizes, drink specials, appetizers, and a D.J..

September 2011

Maureen Brull, Elf Leader for our Summer Backpack Program, proudly reports that a new record was set this summer. We provided 539 new backpacks filled with essential school supplies to 19 area schools! We also received an urgent request from Owego Elementary School for 100 backpacks and 100 whiteboards. The Elves came through again. Thanks to all involved.

Elf helpers at a local fundraising bottle drive.