Mariah Antetokounmpo's Fostering Community Christmas spreads festive cheer to foster families
GRAFTON, Wis. (CBS 58) — This Saturday will be special for hundreds of foster children in the Milwaukee area.
The Fostering Community Christmas event is an annual celebration that makes it simple for foster parents to put presents under their tree.
"This party really takes something off my plate," said local foster parent, Amanda Miller.
She is grateful to have a little extra help around the holidays, and her five foster children look forward to the event every year.
Volunteers spent Friday preparing for the fifth year of the festive gathering, which was spearheaded by Mariah Antetokounmpo.
60 foster families will visit the Kacmarcik Center in Grafton Saturday for a day of Christmas spirit.
"When I think about the holidays, when I think about this event- it's joy," Antetokounmpo said during set-up on Friday. "There's food, there's music, it's like a little carnival."
While the kids all play together, their parents will sneak into Santa's workshop, where hundreds of toys were donated by the community.
"I'll go through the shopping line, I get to pick out three gifts per kid," Miller explained.
Volunteers will wrap the gifts and secretly put them in the foster parents' trunks.
"The magic of Santa is done for me," Miller said.
Antetokounmpo was inspired to start the event after the birth of her first child with Bucks star, Giannis Antetokounmpo.
"I think kids deserve to be kids, and I feel like kids in the foster system always have to grow up much faster," she explained. "I also really believe that it takes a village to raise kids. Everyone's village looks different, but some of these families can meet their village here."
It has grown into a heartwarming tradition, with many Milwaukee-area organizations stepping in to spread the love - including the Milwaukee Bucks.
"It's home, and the community has done so much for our family and supported our family," Antetokounmpo explained. "It's the least we can do as a family to give back in any way we can."
She usually brings her own children to the event, so they can see the importance of giving back.
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