The Santa Claus Fund was officially started in 1982 by Carol and Dick Travis of Jackson Hole, Wyoming, with the goal of buying brand new toys and clothes for children of families who are in crisis or considered to be low income. An example would be a family experiencing severe medical issues, economic crisis, or other circumstances.
We are a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization.
For forty-two years the Santa Claus Fund has made the Holidays special for children by shopping for specific requests for clothing and toys from a wish list that is provided by the parents. Over 150 volunteer shoppers will shop anonymously for over 562 children, wrap and tag all gifts, and picked up by the families a week before Christmas.
MEET THE SANTA FUND BOARD
ROBIN FIELDS
Robin Fields has lived full-time in Jackson for nine years. She first moved here from Connecticut where she and her husband raised their sons. She was involved in many volunteer and non-profit organizations in Connecticut and was drawn to the Santa Claus Fund several years ago after she had participated in something similar in Connecticut. She is new to the Board, and looks forward to working with the partner organizations and other board members to bring holiday joy to members of our community. She also serves on the Grand Teton National Park Foundation Resource Council. She is a retired attorney, and in he free time, she enjoys all the outdoor activities that Jackson offers.
LIZA KIMMEL
Liza Kimmel grew up in Buffalo, NY and yes, she is an avid sports fan. She first moved to Jackson in 1991 right out of college, “just for 1 year.” Thirty-three years later and she is still here. She learned about Santa Fund from a friend about five years ago and immediately volunteered to be a shopper. She previously worked with underprivileged youth for 13 years and recognized how much even a single gift under the Christmas tree can brighten a child’s life. When she is not busy shopping for gifts, she runs her own small business in Teton County. She has two grown children and still loves how excited they get on Christmas morning. Her favorite thing about the holidays is exploring the lakes in the Tetons to find the perfect black ice to skate with friends and family.
JENNIFER M. LIRA
Jennifer M. Lira was born and raised in Jackson. She graduated from JHHS in 2015 and the University of Wyoming in 2019. Jen’s volunteer efforts began in 2010 when she first volunteered at the Teton County Library. Her volunteer efforts spanned nationwide, including Flint, Michigan during the Flint water crisis, the Rocky Mountain region for income disparity, and in October 2019, she first volunteered as a shopper for Santa Fund before joining the Board in March of 2022. Jennifer currently works as a paralegal with The Spence Law Firm, LLC. In her spare time, she enjoys paddling and biking. Her favorite thing about the holidays is being surrounded by lights and festivities in the snow-covered mountains of Jackson.
SHANNON STEC
Shannon Stec is originally from Philmont, NY. She moved to Jackson twenty years ago and lives with her husband, three kiddos, two dogs, and cat. She works as a Relationship Manager for Willow Street Group and when she is not busy working or running kids around, she loves getting outside whether that be hiking, running, camping, or skiing. She got involved in the Santa Claus Fund a few years ago as a way to help her kids better understand and appreciate volunteering and being a part of the community they live in. She absolutely loves the holiday season, not just the holiday itself, especially cooking and baking holiday treats, decorating the house, and hunting for a Christmas tree every year. And she is a firm believer that it’s never too early to start playing holiday music!