- February 5, 2025
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It may have been a hot Florida day in July, but that didn't stop Santa Claus from making a visit to Port Orange to help raise money for people who need maxillofacial surgery but cannot afford it.
The Saturday, July 14, "Christmas in July" Operation Changing Lives charity event, held at the Tomoka Brewing Company, brought in Santa, complete with a sleigh and flying reindeer.
And while Operation Changing Lives started out by providing facial surgeries for children with cleft palates and social deformities, it has expanded to reach out into the community for Christmas.
The brewery teamed up with Operation Changing Lives to not only provide monetary support so that low-income individuals with severe facial deformities can receive surgery but also to create awareness that the organization is gearing up for Christmas and will once again be buying gifts for children in Volusia and Flagler counties whose families do not have the extra funds for the holidays.
According to Cherise Wintz, director of events for Operation Changing Lives, this year's funds could go toward backpacks for school or simply supporting a local family financially. Wintz said they would like to provide 200 to 300 students with backpacks or uniforms.
"I'm a believer in paying it forward," Wintz said. "I just feel like if everybody could do a little bit, you would have a much better world out there."
"I'm a believer in paying it forward. I just feel like if everybody could do a little bit you would have a much better world out there." Cherise Wintz, director of events for Operation Changing Lives.
This is the third year that Operation Changing Lives has partnered up with the Tomoka Brewing Company as well as nonprofit Team Red, White and Blue to hold the event in Port Orange. This year, Artrageous also teamed up with the organization by donating 25% of their ornament proceeds to Operation Changing Lives. Wintz said that through these events the organization has been able to provide a Christmas experience for about 4,000 children each year in Volusia and Flagler counties.
As for Sue Borwick and her husband Rich McCarthy, the owners of the brewery, deciding to host the event was a way to give back to the community. Borwick, who met Wintz at her fitness boot camp, said 10% of the revenue from people who come in to eat and drink during the event will go back to the charity.
"Awareness and helping those families in Volusia County is our goal," Borwick said.
As for Santa, played by Karl Mandl, who has been with the organization for "many years," being a part of this event and the many others throughout the year is all about the children and their families.
And his favorite part about what he does?
"Seeing the kids that show up and also having a success as a fundraising activity so we can continue to provide even more things to the kids and service more kids," Mandl said.
