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NYC Service · In-Kind Initiatives
Secret Snowflake
❄️ Secret Snowflake sign-up is currently closed. Check back in the fall for information about the next season.
About the Program
NYC's Annual Winter Gift-Giving Initiative
Secret Snowflake is the Mayor's Office's annual winter gift-giving initiative which mobilizes private sector employees and groups to answer wish letters from youth in need. Through this initiative, youth receive a variety of gifts — board games, books, toys — as well as crucial necessities like clothing, shoes, and coats for the winter.
Secret Snowflake letters are written by or on behalf of youth between the ages of 0 and 18 who receive social services from the City, including youth in the foster care system, shelter system, temporary housing, and children being raised by kinship caregivers.
Over the last 15 years, Secret Snowflake has helped answer tens of thousands of youths' wishes — this past year alone, the program served over 14,000 children, the highest number in a single winter season in program history.
14,000+Youth served in the most recent season — a program record
15+ YearsSupporting NYC youth through cross-sector collaboration
Tens of ThousandsOf letters answered across program history
Ways to Participate
How to Support Secret Snowflake
1
Letter Matching
The traditional way to participate — volunteers fulfill youth-written wish letters by selecting and purchasing gifts from the list.
2
Online In-Kind Donation
A great option for remote or hybrid teams — volunteers complete an online form where they select and pledge to donate items from an extensive wishlist.
3
Monetary Donation to the Mayor's Fund
A lower-lift, high-impact way to participate — funds are used to purchase toys and crucial necessities for youth in need.
Press & Media
In the News
Questions? Get in Touch.
Contact Mel Anderson, Corporate Partnerships Coordinator, at secretsnowflake@cityhall.nyc.gov
Participation in City of New York programs is voluntary and will not influence or affect any current or future dealings with the City. Participation does not provide special access to City officials or preferential treatment, and it does not create, promise, or imply any contract award — prospective, pending, or future.