Holiday Magic Meets Community: One Resident’s Gift to Neighbors
Jennifer O'Leary Gives Her Community a Touch of North Pole Magic
Summerport resident Jennifer O’Leary has always felt a calling to give back to her community. Her parents taught her early on in her life that being a part of a neighborhood meant showing up for one another, and she’s carried that mindset with her into adulthood, and into our community in Horizon West.
Earlier this month, Jennifer organized a "Letters to Santa" event in her neighborhood, designed to bring back that old-fashioned Christmas magic: the kind of magic that is rooted in connection, present in the moment and fostering of imagination.
“We live in a world where we’re often glued to our phones and screens, and I wanted to create something that encouraged families to slow down, step outside and experience something together in real time. Writing a letter to Santa, talking about hopes and dreams and believing in a little bit of magic felt like a perfect way to do that,” Jennifer explained.
With many families struggling to make ends meet in 2025, Jennifer made sure this was completely free. Additionally she provided festive cotton candy from her company, Corney’s Cheesecakes, as another way to give an extra treat to her neighbors.
Meet Preston P. Pennington
What began as a simple idea of having Jennifer’s good friend Jason portray Santa soon turned into something even more magical.
Jason Zucker, an actor and former Disney character artist, is the creative mind behind Preston P. Pennington, the official mail carrier of the North Pole. His talent and dedication brought the character to life, delighting children with festive flair, warm storytelling and joyful interactions throughout the event.
The young attendees were especially thrilled to learn that Preston himself would be carrying their precious letters all the way to the North Pole, adding an extra layer of wonder to an already memorable experience.
A Neighborhood Holiday Tradition is Born
Seeing children light up, families gather and neighbors connect reminded Jennifer of why events like this in our neighborhoods matter so much. They build community, create shared memories and remind us that magic doesn’t always come from something grand or expensive. Sometimes the magic is right in front of us.
Residents of Summerport raved about this event on Facebook, saying "What a great thing you're doing.
Thank you!" and calling the event “so sweet and thoughtful” and “a beautiful idea!”
Encouraged by the response and turnout, Jennifer plans to host the second annual "Letters to Santa" event in early December 2026. She looks forward to continuing this tradition for many years to come.
Thank you for all that you do to make our Horizon West community so special, Jennifer!
Additional thanks to residents Cielo Martinez, Jennifer O'Leary and Maxine Wild for use of the photos.
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