By: Jen Zoratti

For 99 years, the Christmas Cheer Board has been working hard to ensure everyone has a happy holiday, and for 49 of those years, Kai Madsen, the charity's executive director, has been a part of making that miracle happen.

"I thought about retiring, but making it to 50 and 100 would be really neat," he says from the Cheer Board's new location on St. James Street, acknowledging the dual significance of 2019.

Madsen's work is not easy, but it's rewarding, and it's made lighter by the generosity of Winnipeggers who help put food on tables and presents under trees by volunteering both their time and money. Making a donation to the Christmas Cheer Board has become a holiday tradition for many people.

Supporting the Christmas Cheer Board is a holiday tradition for us here at the Winnipeg Free Press, too. Today, we're kicking off our fifth annual Miracle on Mountain fundraising campaign that collects monetary donations for the Christmas Cheer Board to pay for food and other items packed into hampers.

"The tradition of our readers stepping up to help the Christmas Cheer Board is part of what makes the holiday season so special in our city," says Free Press editor Paul Samyn. "We are delighted to once again ask our audience to make a Miracle On Mountain so we can make a difference for so many at Christmas."

“If they wrote a cheque last year, make sure you write one for this year. Because that’s really how we do it, getting the message out that it’s time to think Christmas,” Christmas Cheer Board's Kai Madsen said.

As it settles into new digs for its 99th year, the Christmas Cheer Board can now go about its business of occupying the hearts and minds of Winnipeggers during the holiday season.

Source: Winnipeg Sun

Winnipeg outlets gladly donate $36,000 to Free Press Xmas fundraiser.

Canadian Tire says in its advertisements it has everything you would need for the holidays — but it also helps give everything the hungry in our community would need for the holiday.

Source: Winnipeg Free Press

Recent statements by local and national charities say that donations are down significantly since last year. Many of these organizations are critical to the community at this time of year, like Winnipeg Harvest, the Christmas Cheer Board and many others.

Source: Winnipeg Free Press

Manitoba car dealers are once again bringing holiday cheer to thousands of families and individuals.

In Winnipeg, clients of the Christmas Cheer Board, the Salvation Army, Siloam Mission, Willow Place, 1JustCity, Agape Table and Winnipeg Harvest are all the beneficiaries of local auto dealers’ generosity.

Source: Winnipeg Free Press

Where is Winnipeg’s Christmas spirit?

Local charities operating holiday campaigns to help the hungry are finding their donation stockings emptier so far this season.

Source: Winnipeg Free Press

If you call the Christmas Cheer Board, it’s likely you’ll talk to Brian Quail.

For the second year in a row, Quail is volunteering as a switchboard operator — directing calls, answering questions and taking donations.

“It’s the people (here) that make volunteering worthwhile,” Quail says. “To see the dedication of all the people is just amazing.”

The care he received after injuring his left hand at work inspired Quail to start volunteering.

Source: Winnipeg Free Press

Maxim Truck and Trailer’s annual Pancake Breakfast for the Christmas Cheer Board raised a grand total of $27,000!

Source: Winnipeg Sun

The Christmas spirit can be such a powerful force, it can sometimes move mountains — Miracle on Mountain, that is.

Source: Winnipeg Free Press