The Eyes Have It

The event: Christmas Through the Eyes of a Child, the 14th annual holiday party staged by the Society of St. Vincent de Paul’s Friends Outside Program, which assists families of incarcerated individuals and ex-offenders.

The celebration, designed to spread holiday cheer to children whose parents are serving or have served jail sentences, was held Saturday at the Doubletree Hotel in Orange.

Making memories: The party offered 600 children and their families nonstop, spirit-lifting entertainment. During the reception, kids were visited by Santa’s elves, mimes and the Mighty Ducks mascot. Firefighters from the Orange County Fire Authority took youngsters aboard their red engine.

The children then sat at tables draped in white cloths and enjoyed a luncheon as they were called on stage to receive Toys for Tots presents from Santa.

“We want to bring happiness, joy and cheer to a population that’s ordinarily forgotten,” said Sandi Burns, director of Friends Outside. “For most of these children, today is their Christmas.”

Building bridges: The Santa Ana-based Friends Outside provides clothing, support groups, employment assistance, mediation services and mentoring to families of those serving jail sentences and the formerly incarcerated.

Last year, the agency helped 22,788 individuals in Orange County. “Our goal is to reunify the families and create a bridge that will bring the incarcerated back into the community,” Burns said.

Quote: “I know this program works, because I was incarcerated for two years, and I’ve been on the other side of this,” said Rich Pfeiffer, an advisory board member of Friends Outside, who, with the help of the program, became a lawyer after his release from prison eight years ago. “It enabled me to change my life.”

Bottom line: The gala netted about $18,000 for Friends Outside. Proceeds will support the agency’s community programs.

Faces: Sandy Robins, inspirational speaker and author of “They Do Remember,” who talked about her childhood as the daughter of an incarcerated parent; Joe Kay, executive director of the St. Vincent de Paul-Council of Orange, and his wife, event co-chairwoman Pat; event co-chair Colleen Ballas and her husband, John, committee member; Al Hanna, Susan Mendias, Betty Pfeiffer, James Shea, Kathleen Santoro and Michael Schumacher.

What’s Ahead: Friends Outside is launching a fund to send children to summer camp. For information about the program call: (714) 288-5600.