December 14, 2011 – (Above) Santa Claus hands a young visitor to Marina City a small gift bag suitable for hanging on the big new bike that he got from Dick’s Last Resort. 75 underprivileged children were treated to a bike, food, and caroling Tuesday evening, an annual tradition for Dick’s for the past 20 years.

Upstaging Santa may have been politician/entrepreneur Scott Lee Cohen, who paid for two buses to bring the kids to Marina City. The event was almost canceled when the bus company declined to provide the transportation over money it said it was owed by the City of Chicago. According to Cohen, when he learned of this, he arranged to pay the bus company himself.

Also helping with the event were Illinois Secretary of State Jesse White, Illinois Appellate Court justice Joy Cunningham, members of the Chicago Police Department, Chicago Fire Department, and VanderCook College of Music.

(Below) Santa and Mrs. Claus pose before being introduced to the kids. (Click on images to view larger versions.)