Mayor Brandon Johnson emphasized the significance of community during the holiday season through initiatives such as Christmas in the Wards. On December 7, at a press conference held at Pullman Walmart, Johnson previewed the gifts children would receive thanks to various sponsors.

Johnson shared his involvement in Santa’s Holiday Photo Bash and Toy Giveaway on December 7 in Chicago’s 30th Ward via Instagram. The event was organized in collaboration with Alderman Ruth Cruz, the Mayor’s Office of Community Engagement, and the Community Safety Coordination Center. Families participated by selecting toys, posing for photos with Santa, and strengthening community bonds.

Johnson said, "From gifts to meals, every act of kindness makes a lasting impact on families across the city," in a post on X dated December 8.

According to the Christmas in the Wards website, companies such as Amazon, Walmart, Walgreens, Grubhub, McDonald’s, Target, and Walsh Group are listed as Diamond-level sponsors. This indicates an effort to spread holiday cheer throughout Chicago communities.

Christmas in the Wards originated in 1996 as the Christmas in Englewood Foundation. It was founded by Larry Huggins, CEO of Riteway-Huggins Construction. Initially supported by grassroots fundraising efforts focused on the underserved Englewood community. In 2011, it became a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization and expanded its outreach under the name Christmas in the 8th and 34th Wards. By 2014, it rebranded as Christmas in the Wards to reflect its mission of serving families citywide. Over 24 years, it has supported more than 12,000 families across 25 Chicago wards by fostering community connections through business, civic, and sponsor partnerships.