Children & Youth

Elf Louise Christmas Project: Spreading Holiday Joy

About the Project

For many years, the Henry family has proudly supported the Elf Louise Christmas Project, a beloved San Antonio charity delivering holiday toys to thousands of families in need. In 2014, they matched donations at 25% up to $50,000 during the WOAI radiothon—helping bring gifts to nearly 19,000 families. They renewed that generous pledge in 2015, amplifying community giving again.

Donation Match Up to $50,000

This meaningful partnership focused on delivering holiday cheer to children and families across San Antonio:

Families in financial hardship, who might otherwise go without holiday gifts
Children served through 193 social service agencies, schools, and housing authorities, reaching tens of thousands each year
Elf Louise, a 501(c)(3) organization staffed entirely by volunteers, where 98 cents of every donated dollar goes directly into toy purchase and delivery.

This project embodies holiday giving at its best:

To inspire generosity by matching community donations and creating greater impact
To maximize reach, ensuring every gift counts and reaches a child in need
To uphold holiday tradition and warmth, bringing joy to families who need it most

Thomas J. Henry wanted to ensure that holiday giving went further—sparking both goodwill and tangible results in the lives of local families.

Matching Gift Challenge: In 2014 and 2015, Thomas J. Henry pledged $50,000 in matching donations, contributing 25 cents for every dollar raised during the WOAI radiothon.
Radiothon & Silent Auction: Hosted at North Star Mall over two days, engaging the community through live broadcasts and in-person giving.
Fundraising Results: In 2015, the pledge catalyzed over $286,000 in total donations—bringing smiles to many more children than ever before.
Leveraging Community Involvement: The matching pledge served as a beacon, encouraging others to participate and grow the campaign’s impact.

This longstanding giving tradition achieved meaningful results:

Gifted holiday cheer to nearly 19,000 families in 2014 alone
Elevated radiothon proceeds into hundreds of thousands of dollars in aid for the community.
Demonstrated how strategic philanthropy can magnify impact—encouraging community participation for exponential results