Santa Swaps Snow for Sunshine at LuskinOIC’s DTLA Campus

The spirit of giving came early this year as Luskin Orthopaedic Institute for Children (LuskinOIC) hosted its first-ever Christmas in July celebration. The festive event brought patients, families, staff, and the broader community together for a joyful day of toys, music, crafts, food, and essential back-to-school supplies.

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LuskinOIC Ambassadors Daire McLeod (Ghostwriter 3), Bella Blanding (9-1-1: Lone Star), Nayah Damasen (Monster High), and Patient Ambassador Alex Heenan, a member of the UCLA Men’s Water Polo NCAA National Championship team, joined Santa to spread cheer and help give gifts and backpacks filled with school supplies at "Christmas in July" on the LuskinOIC DTLA campus.

Children were welcomed by none other than Santa Claus himself, who traded in his sleigh for summer sunglasses to greet patients and distribute gifts. LuskinOIC Ambassadors Nayah Damasen (Monster High), Daire McLeod (Ghostwriter 3), Bella Blanding (9-1-1: Lone Star), and Patient Ambassador Alex Heenan, a member of the UCLA Men’s Water Polo NCAA National Championship team, joined Santa to spread cheer and help give gifts and backpacks filled with school supplies.

Created to uplift pediatric patients, their siblings, and under-resourced children in the surrounding community, Christmas in July offered more than just fun—it provided vital support at a crucial time of year. “The idea that people could come and grab a toy or school supplies and just have a celebration was needed in the community,” said Dr. Nicholas Bernthal, LuskinOIC Board Member, Attending Surgeon Professor, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA Chair and Executive Medical Director of the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA.

The event was made possible through the generous support of retired LAPD Officer Robert Deamer, Newton Street Lucky Thirteen, Red Sled Santa Foundation, SUPO Foundation, and Seasoned Tees by MCB.

The 114-year-old nonprofit serves as a lifeline for children facing musculoskeletal conditions, providing expert care regardless of a family’s ability to pay. With more than 85% of its patients underinsured, LuskinOIC relies on the generosity of donors and sponsors to continue its mission of advancing health equity for every child in Los Angeles and beyond.

In alliance with UCLA Health, LuskinOIC stands as the largest provider of pediatric orthopaedic urgent care on the West Coast, receives 60,000 patient visits each year, and offers pro-bono treatment to patients in Calexico and Mexicali, among other cities worldwide through its International Children’s Program.

As families begin preparing for the school year, LuskinOIC’s Christmas in July served as a powerful reminder that compassion, care, and community support are timeless gifts—no matter the season.

For more information about the LuskinOIC, please visit luskinoic.org and follow us @LuskinOIC

About Luskin Orthopaedic Institute for Children (LuskinOIC)

Luskin Orthopaedic Institute for Children was founded in 1911 as Los Angeles Orthopaedic Hospital and today is the largest pediatric orthopaedic facility on the West Coast focused solely on musculoskeletal conditions in children. In alliance with UCLA Health and with the support of the LuskinOIC Foundation, we advance pediatric orthopaedics worldwide through outstanding patient care, medical education, and research. Our locations in downtown Los Angeles, Santa Monica, Westwood, and Calexico treat the full spectrum of pediatric orthopaedic disorders and injuries. For more information, please visit luskinoic.org.

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The spirit of giving came early this year as LuskinOIC hosted its first-ever Christmas in July celebration. The Santa-attended event was created to uplift pediatric patients, their siblings, and under-resourced children in the surrounding community.