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INFORMAL REPORT TO CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS No. 10225
January 15, 2019
To the Mayor and Members of the City Council
Page 1 of 3
SUBJECT: STATUS OF THE COWBOY SANTAS PROGRAM
The purpose of this informal report is to provide an update to the Mayor and Council on the status of the
Cowboy Santas Program.
The Cowboy Santas Program began in 1981 when City staff committed to providing area families with toys
for the holidays and established toy distribution sites by working with s Helpers and
Toys for Tots.
In 1984, Cowboy Santas expanded when the Neighborhood Resources Development Program (NRDP),
currently the Community Action Partners (CAP) Program, took over management and developed an intake
and verification system for Cowboy Santas participants. Cowboy Santas continued to receive donations
from Santas Helpers and Toys for Tots, and toy distribution began to take place at seven Fort Worth
community centers and two county sites. Cowboy Santas was funded by the Community Services Block
Grant and activities were reported to the Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs. In the
early 1990s, after a department reorganization, the Park and Recreation Department (PARD) took a lead
role in the program. PARD crews and trucks were used to take toys from the warehouse to various
centers. A warehouse was secured at 613 Texas Street, which was one of the C to
store toys. During this period, distribution parties were held at City-owned community centers.
In 1993, the City merged and adopted the Cowboy
Santas name. The City also created the Cowtown ElvesCowboy Santas to
organize fundraising activities for each department. This merger was successful and resulted in further
collaboration among City departments, including Police and Fire.
In 2006, Cowboy Santas became a legal 501(c)(3) non-profit organization supported by the City of Fort
Worth. The City has supported the program by making annual General Fund allocations within department
budgets, by providing additional support through staff time dedicated to stocking and picking up toys, by
preparing gift bags for distribution, and by certifying client eligibility. Most of the vehicles used by Cowboy
Santas are City vehicles which are used to pick up toys from drop-off locations and for other transportation
and warehouse needs.
reliance on City funding and related resources has increased while charitable
contributions from other sources have declined. Cowboy Santas has received cash donations averaging
$99,540.00 over the last six years (see chart below). In FY 2018, Cowboy Santas received donations
totaling $41,297.00, its lowest amount in donations since 2008. City staff hours used to support the
program have cost an average of $72,500.00 per year. Use of City vehicles and equipment has averaged
approximately $19,000.00 per year.
ISSUED BY THE CITY MANAGER FORT WORTH, TEXAS
INFORMAL REPORT TO CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS No. 10225
January 15, 2019
To the Mayor and Members of the City Council
Page 2 of 3
SUBJECT: STATUS OF THE COWBOY SANTAS PROGRAM
Cash Contributions vs. City General Fund Allocations
There has been a significant drop in the number of families applying for the program in recent years.
At its highest point of participation during the 2011 Christmas season, the program served more than
12,000 children. During the 2017 Christmas season, 8,300 children and families were served, representing
a 30 percent decrease in participation. Unofficial estimates for the 2018 Christmas season place client
participation at fewer than 7,000 children and families served. This does not include exception cases such
as requests for assistance from agencies such as Child Protective Services and other community-based
organizations.
ISSUED BY THE CITY MANAGER FORT WORTH, TEXAS
INFORMAL REPORT TO CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS No. 10225
January 15, 2019
To the Mayor and Members of the City Council
Page 3 of 3
SUBJECT: STATUS OF THE COWBOY SANTAS PROGRAM
There have been numerous conversations between the Cowboy Santas Board and the City over the last
few years. In September 2018, the Cowboy Santas Board held a retreat to discuss the future of the
program. During the retreat, the Board determined that the best course of action was to pursue merging
Cowboy Santas with another non-profit organization while developing a strategy to bolster Board member
recruitment as well as fundraising efforts.
Recent media outlets have inaccurately reported that Cowboy Santas will cease operations by the end of
January 2019. Funding in the FY 2019 General Fund budget for the Cowboy Santas remains at $206,000,
which covers a lease of warehouse space (located at 541 North Main Street), salary for a part-time
program coordinator, utilities, supplies, and contractual services through September 30, 2019.
City staff is working diligently to assist Cowboy Santas in transitioning towards full independence and
autonomy by merging it with a viable not-for-profit organization and jointly developing a strategy for its
success and continuation. There are several area organizations that provide similar services such as
Mission Arlington, 6 Stones, the Salvation Army, and the Star- Staff
sincerely believes a new partner organization can be identified to carry the name and tradition of Cowboy
Santas. In the meantime, staff from the Property Management and Neighborhood Services departments
are working to identify comparable warehouse space from which Cowboy Santas can continue to operate.
Staff from the Neighborhood Services Department is working to identify a viable non-profit organization as
a new partner for Cowboy Santas. City staff will also work with the Cowboy Santas Board during any
potential transition/merger to develop a communication and marketing plan for the organization and
minimize disruption to current operations.
Please contact Aubrey Thagard, Director of Neighborhood Services, for additional information at 817-392-
8187.
David Cooke
City Manager
ISSUED BY THE CITY MANAGER FORT WORTH, TEXAS