RENO, Nev. (Dec. 7, 2024) – The holiday spirit soared to new heights today as Santa traded his reindeer for a C-130 aircraft, touching down at the Reno-Tahoe International Airport (RNO) for the 10th annual Operation Santa Claus.
This festive event, hosted by the Reno-Tahoe Airport Authority (RTAA) in partnership with Atlantic Aviation, the Reno-Tahoe Aviation Group and the Nevada Air National Guard, celebrated the season with 28 local families from The Children’s Cabinet, bringing joy through the collective generosity of the airport community, aviation groups, local businesses and individuals.
“Operation Santa Claus takes the magic of the holidays and lets it take flight,” said Richard Jay, RTAA Board Trustee. “It’s incredible to see the airport family come together and work toward the common goal of delivering smiles and joy to families in our community.”
A Runway of Festivities
Families stepped into a winter wonderland inside the Atlantic Aviation hangar, where activities ranged from a Grinch-y greeting to a dazzling performance by Flips Gymnastics and a high-flying Parade of Planes, presented by the Reno Tahoe Aviation Group. Guests also enjoyed games, crafts, holiday music, hot chocolate and furry love from Paws4Passengers therapy dogs, ensuring tail wags were in ample supply.
“Operation Santa Claus embodies the spirit of giving that makes this community so special,” said Kim Young, CEO of The Children’s Cabinet. “The collaboration between the airport and so many generous supporters help us deliver a season of warmth and joy to the families we serve. This event shows how high the holiday spirit can truly soar when we all come together.”
Santa, Frosty and Rudolph delighted families by arriving in spectacular style on a C-130 aircraft and later posing for photos, listening to holiday wishes and spreading cheer to children.
Making Spirits Bright for Local Families
Operation Santa Claus brings together aviation enthusiasts and community members to create a memorable day for families facing challenges during the holiday season. The Children’s Cabinet, which supports youth and families across northern Nevada, ensured the gifts and joy were delivered with care, embodying their mission to keep children safe and families together.
Photos, video and other digital assets from the event can be found here.
Ways to Support The Children’s Cabinet:
Donations to support The Children’s Cabinet and their year-round programs can be made at childrenscabinet.org/donate.
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About The Children’s Cabinet
Founded in Reno in 1985, The Children’s Cabinet is dedicated to keeping children safe and families together. Through a unique partnership between public and private sectors, the organization provides no-cost services to over 15,000 families annually, including basic needs assistance, educational resources, crisis intervention, and family counseling. The Children’s Cabinet relies on the generosity of the community to continue its work supporting youth and families.
The Reno-Tahoe Airport Authority (RTAA) operates two of the most important economic drivers for our region–the Reno-Tahoe International Airport (RNO) and the Reno-Stead Airport (RTS). The RTAA is financially self-sufficient, meaning it is funded through airport operations and not state or local taxes. Eleven airlines serve RNO, flying to multiple nonstop destinations throughout the United States and Mexico. For more details, visit www.renoairport.com.