Mascots, Santa Claus, and Bucket Trucks Spread Holiday Cheer at Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta

The patients at Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta Scottish Rite Hospital spotted Santa Claus outside their hospital room windows on Tuesday, but he wasn’t alone. 

Sandy Springs firefighters, Superman, Spiderman, and Atlanta Braves’ mascot, Blooper, rappelled down the hospital exterior, while Santa Claus waved from the safety of a fire truck bucket.  

The third-annual event organized by the Sandy Springs Fire Department also featured Atlanta Hawks’ mascot Harry the Hawk and Atlanta Falcons’ mascot Freddie Falcon who greeted patients, their families, and hospital personnel inside before passing out gifts, donated by department itself and the City of Sandy Springs.

For years, Sandy Springs Fire Department Captain Kyle Sweeney envisioned the holiday event where firefighters would rappel down the side of the children’s hospital.  

Three years ago, the idea finally came to life. 

“The kids are going through something usually that's pretty bad and they're here during the holidays and so, the idea of doing it during the holidays is a way we can kind of just brighten up their days just for a little bit,” said Sweeney, who’s worked with the Sandy Springs Fire Department for 15 years. “It’s not a long visit, but it's a day where they get to smile and enjoy and see a bunch of people that they want to see, and it's exciting for them, so they can kind of forget about their problems for a little bit. And we all enjoy it. We're all in a business of helping.”  

Initially planned as a training exercise and way to celebrate the holidays with Children’s patients, the event has turned into a tradition, which has grown each year. New during Tuesday’s event were several members of the Cherokee Fire Department; Georgia Power lineworkers, who waved to patients from their bucket trucks; and the Atlanta Braves, Falcons, and Hawks mascots, provided by Georgia Power.

“The mascots are a cool edition this year,” Sweeney said. “Georgia Power this year really set it off by bringing over professional sports team mascots. The State Fire Marshall’s Office, they brought the Sparky mascot. And there’s a nurse that dresses up as Spider Man and Super Man. He just started joining us last year. He saw what we were doing and thought, ‘I have costumes.’” 

Wren, who works in Corporate Affairs, began Georgia Power’s involvement in the holiday event beginning in 2023 with the donation of Braves and Georgia Power blankets. But for Tuesday’s event, she led the effort of patients getting face-to-face time with their favorite big-league mascots for quite a personal reason.

"When I was a baby, I was a patient at Children's Healthcare of Atlanta and they saved my life,” said Wren, who works in Corporate Affairs. “When Sandy Springs Fire approached us at Georgia Power to see if we could help support the event, I knew we had to. It was one of those meant to be moments. Seeing the smiles on the kids’ faces and know that you had a small hand in helping that happen is why we do what we do." 

To learn more about how you can help Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta through volunteering or donations, visit the Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta website.