In December 1998, entrepreneur and philanthropist Dick Sanford read a story in a local Chester County, PA paper that both angered and inspired him. "The article talked about a bunch of children who were freezing at the bus stop because they did not have winter coats." Using his own money, Sanford went to a local department store, purchased all its children's coats and then distributed the coats through a local social service organization.

One man's gift to a few children has grown into an organization dedicated to warming hundreds of thousands. Since Mr. Sanford's personal gesture of kindness in 1998, Operation Warm has distributed more than 375,000 new winter coats to children living in poverty throughout the United States and the equivalent of more than $14 million in merchandise.

Operation Warm provides new winter coats to children in need through strategic partnerships with donors and community organizations. Our vision is that every child wearing a new winter coat is healthy, is able to attend school regularly, and has strong self-esteem. We hope that each child we reach believes, "I am of value."