Christmas In The Wards Brings Happiness During The Holiday Season

Christmas in the Wards Founder Larry Huggins, with 8th Ward Alderman Michelle Harris and Mayor Brandon Johnson. PHOTO BY JOHN WHEELER PHOTOGRAPHY.
Christmas in the Wards Founder Larry Huggins, with 8th Ward Alderman Michelle Harris and Mayor Brandon Johnson. PHOTO BY JOHN WHEELER PHOTOGRAPHY.

Christmas In The Wards Brings Happiness During The Holiday Season

By Tia Carol Jones

Children and their families were able to receive gifts and celebrate the holidays at Christmas in the Wards. The annual event brought families from all 50 wards and 77 neighborhoods in Chicago, as well as families from the South Suburbs and Proviso Township, together in a ballroom at McCormick Place. 

The theme of this year’s event was about celebrating all of Chicago’s 77 neighborhoods. There were more than 500 people in attendance, including elected officials and their staff. Families were served breakfast and were able to receive warm coats and household essentials, as well as bicycles, large screen televisions and laptops, in addition to the gifts the children received.

Christmas in the Wards began 28 years ago when Larry Huggins, CEO of Riteway-Huggins Construction, was asked by Terry Peterson to do Christmas in Englewood. Since then, Christmas in the Wards has served more than 20,000 families.

Cook County President Toni Preckwinkle talked about how the event grew from a fieldhouse in the 17th Ward to the recent event at McCormick Place.

“Christmas is surely a time of celebration, but it’s also a time when we should count our blessings. I’m very grateful to the people who have made this possible over the year and provided a wonderful Christmas for so many of our families,’ Preckwinkle said.

Mayor Brandon Johnson said it was wonderful to have an event where people from diverse backgrounds gathered to celebrate the holiday season. He said Christmas in the Wards helps spread joy and love throughout the city.

“I do want to acknowledge Larry Huggins and LaToyia Huggins for their commitment to this mission, with their vision to spread joy and love throughout our communities. Christmas in the Wards has been able to grow and reach more and more families every single year,” Johnson said.

Johnson added that having businesses and community partners come together for the event, ensures the mission fulfills its ultimate purpose. He said the rich, diverse, vibrant neighborhoods is what makes the city great, and Christmas in the Wards is another way to illuminate that greatness. 

Fourth Ward Alderman Lamont Robinson acknowledged all of his colleagues that were in attendance. He thanked the Huggins family for what they do, from Christmas in the Wards, to providing scholarships to students so they can attend Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs).

“I’ve often said that Chicago Mayors have made a huge impact on the success of Christmas in the Wards, starting with Mayor Daley, continuing with Mayor Rahm Emanuel, continuing under Mayor Lori Lightfoot. What makes this day so special to me is because we have Mayor Brandon Johnson that truly represents … 90% of the kids here go to Chicago Public Schools. At the end of the day, he is a mayor that truly loves the city and loves you,” Larry Huggins said.

Lieutenant Governor Julianna Stratton said she loves to see people come together as a community. She said it is a blessing to know there are people who are dedicated to giving back to their neighbors.

“I want all of our children to know that we love you, that we have your backs and we want you to have the most joyful holiday season that you can have and it starts right here, right now, today,” she said.

On Wednesday, Dec. 18th, as part of Christmas in the Wards’ 2024 Season of Giving, 100 families from Proviso Township -- Bellwood, Broadview, Maywood, and host community North Riverside -- received $150 to spend on groceries courtesy of Amazon Fresh, as well as a matching $150 gift card from Presenting Sponsor, Grubhub.

“We know that families strive 365 days a year, yet the strains are felt most during the holiday season, what we collectively call ‘the most wonderful time of the year’. As disparities widen for so many, our mission deepens to bridge gaps during times of significant need. This food and nutrition support, from Amazon and Grubhub, helps to ease burdens, during a time when families feel the pinch to do far more with far less” LaToyia Huggins, Executive Director of Christmas in the Wards, said in a press release.

For more information about Christmas in the Wards, visit christmasinthewards.com.


Latest Stories

Latest Podcast

A.L. Smith - Harold Washington Legacy Committee