Meet Eric Hasenyager
Eric loved Christmas. Not just the day — the whole spirit of it. The lights, the music, the wonder, and most of all, the giving. With his big white Santa beard, children would light up when they saw him, and he loved every second of it.
He believed that giving was one of life's greatest gifts. He carried childlike wonder with him all year long — the same joy, magic, and belief you find in his favorite Christmas movie, Elf. Eric didn't just watch Christmas magic. He made it, for everyone around him.
Every child deserves Christmas.
Every child deserves to feel remembered.
Every child deserves to know someone cares.
The Great Christmas Project was founded in his loving memory — to take the love Eric gave so freely and turn it into something that puts joy into the lives of children, every Christmas, forever.
His legacy isn't defined by loss. It's defined by how much love he gave — and how that love keeps giving, through every gift placed in a child's hands, every book under a tree, and every child who walks into Santa's Free Store and hears: "Pick whichever one you want. It's yours."