Santa had a special helper this year, Oliviya Viertel, a first-grader at Fairmont Charter Elementary. Oliviya underwent treatment for Leukemia last year at UCSF Benioff Children's Hospital in Oakland.
Now in remission, she has become an ambassador and organized a toy drive at Fairmont to pass out to the children in the hospital. Last year, she collected 220 toys. This year, thanks to her classmates, she has surpassed that by collecting 500 from her classmates. Last week, Oliviya visited the hospital with her parents and donated gifts, ensuring the kids had a Christmas toy and forever etching herself on Santa's good list.