JAMAICA — For Victoria Satlov, Bright Christmas is about both giving and receiving. For years she has been a generous donor to the Bright Christmas campaign and believes that she is the one who is receiving the true gift of being able to help those less fortunate.

Satlov is a member of Immaculate Conception Parish in Manhattan, where she currently resides, but her roots are firmly planted in Queens. 

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She grew up and attended St. Nicholas of Tolentine Church, Jamaica, with her family. The NYU graduate, who is a senior business analyst at First Republic Bank, attended St. Francis Prep and credits her Catholic school education with offering her a solid foundation for all her future successes.

A longtime subscriber to The Tablet, Satlov said that it allows her to keep up with what’s going on within the Diocese of Brooklyn. 

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“When Bright Christmas comes around, those letters that you see in The Tablet from people needing something under their Christmas tree, or helping the parishes and the schools to support various Christmas activities and toy drives for less fortunate students, there’s just so much we can do,” Satlov explained.  

“How can you not have something for a child? Imagine if you are a single parent and you can’t afford to give your kid new crayons, new notebooks, it makes no sense and breaks your heart,” she said. “Bright Christmas is a lifesaver for these children.”

With The Tablet’s 2022 Bright Christmas campaign underway, Satlov is once again supporting the tradition that has spanned more than half a century. The campaign strives to help those less fortunate and ensure that no child goes without a gift on Christmas.

Last year, Bright Christmas raised more than its goal of $115,000 for parishes and ministries, as well as religious education programs, that have requested resources they can pass along to others. This year’s goal has been set at $125,000.

Over the past decade, the campaign has received and distributed more than $1.4 million. These funds have been used to purchase Christmas presents, food, materials that teach the faith, and other necessities.

Satlov encourages others to open their hearts and wallets and give whatever they can. “In the grand scheme of things, what I give isn’t a lot, but if more people could reach into their pockets and be a little more generous, then a child who doesn’t have something can come to their parish or school hall and maybe have some hot chocolate and cookies and walk away with a present only for them.”

For Satlov, Bright Christmas transcends politics and personal beliefs. 

“At the end of the day, it’s about taking care of each other,” she said. “And if we can do a better job of it without any hoopla or carrying on, and if you have a few extra dollars, somebody who is hurting could use the help.”