Southern California Santa volunteer loses home in Palisades Fire
Philip Alderton spent many Christmas holidays dressed as Santa Claus to bring gifts and cheer to underprivileged children in the Pasadena and Altadena areas for over 30 years.
When the Palisades fire ignited on Jan. 7, he quickly evacuated his Pacific Palisades mobile home and fled to safety, not knowing what would be left when he returned.
Located in the Tahitian Terrace neighborhood, Alderton's mobile home, along with his neighbors' homes, were all destroyed in the wildfire.
Alderton always loved giving back to the community, buying and collecting toys for children in need.
'Some of the places we go to, they have absolutely nothing,' Alderton told KTLA in a 2019 interview about Operation Santa. 'People living in garages with no electricity and things like that, so [the kids] are amazed when Santa shows up.'
But now, his loved ones said, he's the one who could use some help and community support.
Originally from Sydney, Australia, Alderton moved to Southern California and eventually, made the Pacific Palisades his forever home.
His beloved mobile home community became like family, so when he discovered the fires had destroyed the neighborhood, the heartbreak was unimaginable.
'I don't think it's really hit me yet,' Alderton said. 'I'm single and alone. I think the people with the families, it's really hard because of the kids.'
When residents eventually returned to their homes, Alderton sifted through the rubble of his former house in disbelief, looking for anything salvageable. He's unsure what the future will look like as he begins to rebuild his life one day at a time.
'Sometimes, you just feel so down, and other times, life's hysterically funny,' he said. 'You just try to say, 'Well, this is what I got. This is the start.''
Annette Dominguez-O'Hair, a friend who set up a GoFundMe page to help Aldteron wrote, 'He has selflessly volunteered for many causes and he has always been there whenever anyone needed him. Philip is very humble. He didn't ask for help and he wouldn't ask. He is honestly much more concerned with helping others.'
A GoFundMe page to help Alderton rebuild his life can be found here.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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