Governor Glenn Youngkin and First Lady Suzanne S. Youngkin have donated $21,875, representing the second half of the governor’s fourth-quarter salary, to Fort Lee’s Holiday Helper Toy Store. The donation was presented on December 10, 2025, during a visit to the nonprofit organization that supports military families.
Holiday Helper provides junior-ranking service members with an opportunity each December to select toys, books, clothing, bicycles, and other essential items for their children at no cost. The program is operated entirely by volunteers and donations and serves more than 2,000 military children annually.
“At the start of our service journey together, the First Lady and I pledged that we would donate our salary to organizations that embody the character and the shared values that make the Commonwealth of Virginia so special,” said Governor Glenn Youngkin. “Our first donation, back in April 2022, went towards supporting our front-line heroes in law enforcement. Now we’ve come full circle and are giving our final donation toward supporting the families of those who preserve the freedoms we enjoy today. Holiday Helper is an incredible association that has done so much to give military children the kind of Christmas they dream of and deserve. Suzanne and I are proud to support Holiday Helper in their amazing mission.”
“Holiday Helper wraps military families in generosity and joy—reminding them how deeply they are valued,” said First Lady Suzanne S. Youngkin. “We are humbled to support a program that reflects the very best of Virginia’s Christmas spirit.”
During their visit to Fort Lee, Governor Youngkin and First Lady Suzanne S. Youngkin were joined by Major General Sean Davis from U.S. Army Combined Arms Support Command; Colonel Richard J. Bendelewski, Garrison Commander; and Carlton Branch, President of Holiday Helper Association. The event included remarks from military leaders as well as testimonials from service members who benefit from the program.
Since its founding in 2001 within Army Community Services at Fort Lee (now known as Fort Gregg-Adams), Holiday Helper has expanded into a year-round operation working with over 100 community partners. Its services now include commissary gift cards for food assistance, new parent support packages for young families or expecting parents among service members, as well as resources tailored for Wounded Warriors along with National Guard and Reserve personnel.
The recent donation fulfills Governor Youngkin’s pledge made at the beginning of his term to donate his entire gubernatorial salary to charitable organizations throughout Virginia. In total, he and First Lady Suzanne S. Youngkin have contributed $700,000 across 20 nonprofits statewide since taking office in January 2022.
Many recipient charities are located near Petersburg or within greater Petersburg—a region central to one of Governor Youngkin’s key initiatives known as The Partnership for Petersburg—which aims to address challenges faced by communities in this area through collaboration between government agencies and local organizations.
More information about supported charities or details about The Partnership for Petersburg can be found on the First Lady’s website: www.firstlady.virginia.gov/about/awards-and-donations/.
