Sam Groesch likes to play Santa.
Two years ago, as a junior at Keystone Oaks High School, he started with a stuff-a-bus event and $400. Last year, he identified two hardworking and hard-up KO families — made up of five children and four adults — and fulfilled their Christmas wish lists with $750.
Most of the money came from an agreement with his parents, grandmother and aunt to exchange about half of his own Christmas presents for cash toward his Santa project, something he was eager to do after noticing how many gifts from the past he had barely touched.
But grandma being a grandma, she gave him his full complement of presents anyway, plus a few hundred dollars to help others.
“It brought tears to my eyes that he could be so generous,” Debbie Shrubb, his similarly generous grandmother said. “The kids all know I would give them anything they want, but to have one who wants to give to others instead of himself is pretty special.”
A Post-Gazette story from last year covered most of that. Here’s what’s new: As a 19-year-old high school graduate, he’s back at it with a more formalized donation process, via a GoFundMe page, a lofty $5,000 goal and incentives to encourage donations.
When he raises $1,000, he’ll dye his beard half green and half red. At $3,000, he’ll shave his head. And at $5,000, the author of the most liked comment on his Instagram page gets to pick what he’ll do.
He originally thought of donating to larger charitable organizations this year, but a talk with some family members brought him back to the idea of serving local families. Like last year, he’ll seek the advice of Keystone Oaks teachers and administrators to help identify some families in need of Christmastime generosity.
“Sam was a remarkable student, but I think Sam is a remarkable person,” Mike Linnert, Keystone Oaks High School principal. “There’s never a bad place to give, but helping those you’re surrounded with and we know will genuinely appreciate all that he’s doing I think is genuinely wonderful.”
A year ago, Mr. Groesch was thinking of becoming a special education teacher. But after a COVID-19-disrupted senior year, he’s re-evaluating his future.
He’ll start classes at Community College of Allegheny College in the spring to pursue an undetermined major. In the meantime, he’s working at Walmart, which gives him a huge leg up on shopping for this year’s Santa project: Though he doesn’t bother with sale shopping, he does have a discount card and an inside track on the newest products.
Regardless of the major or career he chooses, those closest to him know he’s already doing some very important work.
“This is a great talent he has,” Ms. Shrubb said. “If this is what he wants to do, he should dream big.”
To help Mr. Groesch reach his $5,000 goal, visit gofund.me/485fb450. Donations close Dec. 6.
Abby Mackey: amackey@post-gazette.com, Twitter @AnthroAbbyRN and IG @abbymackeywrites.
First Published: November 14, 2021, 11:00 a.m.
