We welcomed two very cute visitors, miniature ponies Tia and Lollipop, who came along to receive a cheque for £1,000 on behalf of The Phoenix Children’s Foundation. The money was raised from the shopping centre’s Santa’s grotto, with a proportion of proceeds from the entry fee going towards the charity.
The grotto welcomed over 1,226 children over the festive period, all of whom had a one to one meeting with Santa to tell him what was on their lists, before receiving a gift to take home.
The Phoenix Children’s Foundation, which is based in Ashby-de-la-Zouch, works to enrich and enhance the lives of youngsters and their families living with illness, disability or lack of opportunity. The charity owns a small menagerie of animals, ranging from Alpacas and Goats, to Shetland Ponies and Reindeer, which provide young people with opportunities to grow emotionally and learn through Animal Assisted Activity.
Anita Withers, Collections Manager for The Phoenix Children’s Foundation, added:
“We would like to thank The Swan Centre for their continued support. We have been working with them for many years and always look forward to the fantastic reception we receive from The Swan Centre’s amazing customers. This donation will enable us to continue our invaluable work with all of our very special children.”
