With the start of the New Year, it is time to recognize groups and individuals who have performed exceptional deeds above and beyond.

The community and Fountain Hills Unified School District’s tremendous support for the annual Adopt an Angel Program had some very special angels and elves who all helped create miracles, tears of joy and happiness and smiles on Christmas Day for more than 87 children and their families in Fountain Hills.

Jalin Yoder, senior at FHHS and member of the Key Club, which is a division of the evening Kiwanis, spearheaded this effort with the help of Phillis Straka, Cindy Keith, Lynn Fink, Joyce Bucci, Chief Dave Ott and Capt. Todd Brunin with the Fountain Hills Fire Dept., and all the employees of Bank of America, Wells Fargo, Washington Federal Savings and Meridian Bank as well as the Rio Verde group.

Additional special angels include: John Schmitz, Janet Pageau and the Fountain Hills Elks Lodge No. 2847, The Church of Ascension, Matthew Community, The Presbyterian Church, Bill Fraser and The Fountain Hills Woodworkers, The Fountain Hills Realtors Group-Scottsdale Area Association of Realtors, Paul Perreault and the Fountain Hills FLAG group, the Fountain Hills Key Club advised by Kate Pruett and The Fountain Hills Times and all those special elves who chose angels from the trees at the banks and shopped for them.

On behalf of the Fountain Hills Christmas Angel Program, I thank one and all who worked behind the scenes to make this program the success that it was.

Hats off to you for a job well done, you made Christmas and the holidays very special to so many children and their families. Have a healthy, joyous, happy New Year.