The ZNA Holiday Families Program is a long-standing neighborhood effort to help ease the financial burden of Christmas for roughly ten families (35-40 people) at Zilker Elementary. The school’s counselor determines which families could use the most help, and then donations are requested from the neighborhood. The Program Coordinator and Chief Elf, Brettne Shootman, will then get to work with the rest of the Zilker elves to shop, wrap, and deliver gifts to the school families before Christmas. (Surplus funds will be shared with the Central Texas Food Bank and/or carried over to seed next year’s Holiday Families Program.)
If you would like to take part in this worthwhile effort, please wait to donate next season and/or volunteer to be one of the Zilker elves!
Thank You
We wish to thank the following donors to the 2024 Holiday Families Program: Amanda Peterson, Ann Bratten Thomason, Anonymous, Brettne Shootman, Caitlin Nelson, Cecile Carson, Commissioner Ann Howard, Craig Parker, Dorsey Cartwright, Eleanor McKinney, Elizabeth Scanlon, Emily Bubolz, Genny Duncan, Holly Plotner, Ingrid and Todd Spencer, Jenifer Floyd, Jessica Grimm, Jessica Hargest, Jewel Stone, Joseph Etherton, Katya Redpath, Keith Kreitman, Kimberly Kohlhaas, Laura Westcott, Linda Boxberger, Linda Mizell, Luis Guerra, Lynn Robbins, Maria Mack, Marni Kane, Mary Christine Reed, Nina Heller, Paul Rutecki, Rebecca Lang, Robin Rather, Sarah Vij, Sean Evans, Tanya Payne, Tracey Becken, and William Bunch.
We also to wish to thank our 2025 Zilker Elfs for volunteering their time and resources: Diane Dahm, Shelly Eager, Jill Rhoden, Jill Robinson, Brettne Shootman, Julia Oswald, Vicki Russell, Mary Luschin, Barbara Cossie, Jewel Stone, and Sarah Tower. And a special thank you to our previous Chief Elf, Harmony Grogan, who successfully led this impactful program for many years.
Historical Giving by ZNA Members
| Year | Amount |
|---|---|
| 2025 | $9,657.27 (inc. $1,492.27 in direct gifts from Elves) |
| 2024 | $8,796.92 (inc. $816.92 in direct gifts from Elves) |
| 2023 | $6,341.91 (inc. $921.91 in direct gifts from Elves) |
| 2022 | $6,668.00 |
| 2021 | $6,110.00 |
| 2020 | $5,299.68 |
| 2019 | $5,199.68 |
| 2018 | $4,648.44 |
| 2017 | $5,997.04 |
| 2016 | $5,596.00 |
| 2015 | $4,498.00 |
| 2014 | $3,383.72 |
| 2013 | $1,926.00 |
| 2012 | $2,051.16 |
| 2011 | $1,322.54 |
| 2010 | $2,000.00 |
| 2009 | $2,268.07 |
| 2008 | $1,885.00 |
| 2007 | $1,996.77 |
| 2006 | $1,518.60 |
| 2005 | $997.49 |
| Total | $78,505.02 |
Get in Touch
If you have any questions or would like to volunteer as a Zilker Elf, contact our Chief Elf, Brettne Shootman, at [email protected]