Audacy Houston’s Mix 96.5 (KHMX) and Sarah Pepper & Jessie Watt Mornings hosted a special Christmas event, the Southwest Santa Express, benefiting children from DePelchin Children’s Center. The unique celebration collected $32,000 in donations.
Held at Houston’s Hobby Airport Hangar, the Southwest Santa Express featured hot chocolate, cookies, and an appearance by Santa himself, who arrived via a Southwest Airlines jet. The money raised by KHMX ensured that the Christmas wishes of more than 1,500 children in DePelchin’s care were fulfilled.
Children at the event were given the experience of touring the plane with a boarding pass and later exchanging their baggage tags for gifts selected from an Amazon wish list by Mix 96.5 listeners.
Watt said, “Working with Sarah Pepper, I’ve seen firsthand how she can make magic happen out of thin air, and this is one of those moments. I’m so excited to help her create a lasting memory for the children of DePelchin and spread holiday joy to a community that deserves it all. Sarah has always thrived on giving back to the Houston community in every way she can, dreaming as big as Santa’s Workshop.”
Pepper added, “This is something that I have wanted to do for years and have been working on since April, and it was pure magic watching the children’s eyes as Santa waved to them coming into the hangar. This is what radio does; it creates magic, and every child should experience the magic of Christmas.”
Radio Ink‘s 2023 Season of Giving Tally has finished at $28.32 million. Thanks for showing how radio matters to local communities!
