This Christmas, South Africans can create magical, personalised Santa messages… and each one helps a child receive specialised surgery through Smile Foundation.
Johannesburg, South Africa (11 December 2025) – Christmas is about connection, laughter and those little moments that make your heart feel full. Now imagine adding a personalised message from Santa to the mix… one that also funds surgery for a child who needs it.
That’s the beautifully South African magic unfolding right now.
A brand-new partnership between personalised video platform Hey Santa and local NGO Smile Foundation is giving families a way to create unforgettable festive moments at home while helping children across the country receive life-changing medical care. It’s kindness wrapped in Christmas cheer. And we believe it’s one of the most heartwarming campaigns of the season.
And yes… Santa himself sent Good Things Guy a message to kick everything off.
Complete with our name, a thank you for the work we do, and even a congratulatory shout-out for our podcast win this year.
“This was sent to me late last night. And I know it sounds ridiculous… but for a moment, it felt like Santa had really sent me a message. As in, Santa. To me. I actually laughed at myself while typing that, because it sounds so silly.
But there’s something about his voice… a gentle warmth, kindness that feels so rare and so needed. And everything he said gave me all the feels.
I smiled the whole way through this.
And then, to find out (at the end) that it’s all for a good cause, made this even more special.
You can get your own personalised Santa message too.
And you totally should. If something this small can make someone feel seen, or bring a smile to someone who needs it… that’s already a gift.
And it will bring smiles.”
It was unexpected, joyful and really touching. If anything proves Santa sees the good happening in South Africa, it’s that little surprise landing in our inbox.
But that’s exactly what this entire initiative is about: spreading joy far beyond your circle.
Hey Santa and Smile Foundation have teamed up for “Make Their Christmas,” a campaign encouraging families to turn a small part of their festive spending into something meaningful. Instead of extra gifts or festive extras, families can order a personalised Santa video. And a portion of that cost goes directly to surgeries and specialised care for children living with facial paralysis, cleft lip, cleft palate, craniofacial differences, burns and other medical conditions.
“We see first-hand how a single surgery can completely transform a child’s life, not just their smile but their confidence and future,” says Marc Lubner, Founder of Smile Foundation.
“This partnership with Hey Santa means that families can send magical messages to their children or loved ones while helping another child receive the care they desperately need. It’s a beautiful example of how festive joy can ripple far beyond one household.”
For more than 25 years, Smile Foundation has been showing up for families across South Africa, providing surgeries, psychological support and ongoing care in collaboration with leading surgeons in both public and private hospitals. Over 5,000 children have already been helped through their programmes, and the need continues.
With Hey Santa, families can now play a part in that story through something fun, simple and genuinely meaningful.
“South Africans are looking for ways to make Christmas special without overspending,” says Barry Tuck of Hey Santa.
“With ‘Make Their Christmas,’ families experience a magical, personalised moment their loved ones will cherish, while also helping fund real surgeries for children in need. It’s Christmas magic with a purpose.”
Each personalised video costs around R100 and can be created in minutes. Parents, siblings, friends and gogos… anyone can add a name, a few fun facts, and Santa will deliver a customised message filled with warmth and gentle encouragement. It’s a little burst of festive wonder that doesn’t break the bank and it makes a meaningful difference at the same time.
Families can Make Their Christmas, and someone else’s, by visiting www.heysanta.co.za.
by 