By Cindy Kranz
The Cincinnati Enquirer

When 125 children affected by HIV/AIDS wake up this morning, they'll discover the one Christmas present they wanted has miraculously multiplied into six to 10 brightly colored packages.

Kelly Chambers hugs Anderson High School senior Jessica Miller, 17, after she and other students collected Christmas gifts the students bought for more than 125 children in the Tri-State area. (Steven M. Herppich photo)

This Christmas joy is brought to them courtesy of Anderson High School's 1,500 students who, for the fourth straight year, pooled their money and bought and wrapped presents for these sick and needy children.

For AIDS Children Everywhere (FACE) is a Cincinnati-based organization founded in 1992 that provides assistance for local children and families affected by HIV and AIDS. FACE supplies the Anderson students with the first name, age, gender, race and one gift wish from each child.

The wishes are modest. A blanket. A Barbie. A toy truck.

As usual, when Kelly Chambers and her mother, Dixie Sucher, went to pick up the toys last week, students helped them load more than 1,000 toys.

"I was overwhelmed," said Chambers, president and founder of FACE.

"In all the years we've had FACE, we've never had anyone do what the Anderson High School kids do.

"If it wasn't for FACE and Anderson High School, these children wouldn't have a Christmas. Financially, they're drained, and physically, most parents are not able to get out and shop."

At Anderson, the program is coordinated by Sandra Coleman, a retired English teacher who still works as homeroom coordinator, and Pam Pendery, journalism and mass media teacher.

In October, 59 homerooms received the names of at least two children. The children, ages 2-17, either have HIV/AIDS or their parents have the disease.

Anderson High School students fill up this van with Christmas gifts. (Steven M. Herppich photo)

The idea was to get one present for each child, but every homeroom exceeded that number. Some homerooms raised more than $200. A delegation of students from each homeroom went shopping for toys.

Last week, students wrapped the presents during an extended homeroom period. When offered the choice of extended homeroom for wrapping or for a Christmas party, they chose more wrapping time.

"The students get the significance of this gift giving because it means kids that have very little joy in their lives receive lots of joy for this one day," Pendery said.

One homeroom was abuzz with wrapping presents for twin girls. Among other goodies, the girls will receive two baby dolls, rocking cradles, strollers and doll clothes.

"Every child deserves presents on Christmas," said Maddy Momper, a 17-year-old senior.

Diana Carter, Anderson High School principal, gives the project high marks.

"Our kids have so much. They see the benefit of giving to others," Carter said. "We're all part of the community, and we need to take care of each other. It's not about them. It's about them giving to someone else."

The project is educational as well as philanthropic. Most high school students know about AIDS, but many have never met someone with the disease. Chambers personalized it when she and Sucher, vice president of FACE, spoke to 140 Anderson High School students in November.

Chambers, who believes she contracted the HIV virus through unprotected sex, told her story in hopes of preventing others from making the same mistake. The 35-year-old Cleves woman discovered she was HIV-positive in 1991 after her infant daughter was diagnosed with it.

"I was truly shocked that just one experience of unprotected sex led to AIDS, and then, she had a daughter who died of AIDS," said Nadyne Hayden, a 15-year-old sophomore said.

The highlight of the project is when Sucher and Chambers visit the school to pick up the presents the week before Christmas.

"When Dixie comes with her daughter, Kelly, to pick up these gifts every year, I feel such happiness and joy that we were able to do this for these children," Pendery said. "The looks on their faces say it all. Dixie starts crying. I start crying."

Every year, Sucher tells a heartwarming story when picking up the gifts. This year, she told of a little boy who had received a stuffed animal from the students. He carried it everywhere to the point that the bottom was ripped, so someone fixed it by covering it with a diaper.

Chambers and Sucher hugged every student who helped load the van. The presents will be delivered to the children's homes.

"The one thing we'd all love is to be able to see the kids open these presents," Pendery said. "I know we can't, so we just have to imagine what it's like for them."

Confidentiality rules prevent students from giving the presents to the kids themselves. The students were encouraged to write cards to the kids and tell them they're Santa's helpers.

The Santa connection is tied to the program's beginnings.

About the time FACE was organizing 11 years ago, Chambers asked a little boy with AIDS if he had written his letter to Santa. He hadn't.

"He said Santa never comes to his house, because he's sick," Chambers recalled. "I said, 'That's it. These kids will have a Christmas as long as I'm alive.' "

The little boy has since died, but others like him will know that Santa hasn't forgotten them - thanks to the students at Anderson High School.

About FACE

For AIDS Children Everywhere (FACE) is a nonprofit charity that provides services for more than 100 Tristate children and their families affected by HIV/AIDS.

Services include:

•  Financial assistance, food, clothing, household items, transportation, toys and treats.

•  Peer counseling by HIV-positive mothers who have lost their children to AIDS.

•  Health education and sensitivity training.

For information, visit www.facecincinnati.org or call 584-3571.

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E-mail ckranz@enquirer.com