Community service is the beating heart at the center of the Pennington community, reflecting and fueling the School’s core values of honor, virtue, and humility. While there are many different ways for students to get involved and give back—from international service trips to local fundraising efforts—the School’s relationship with the HomeFront organization perhaps best represents the “all-in” commitment to building community connections that move beyond any one, single event.

That special relationship first began thirty years ago this month. According to Associate Head of School Chad Bridges ’96, who was a junior at the time, Dean of Students Tom Liwosz received an urgent call from HomeFront founder Connie Mercer in December of 1994. HomeFront had been established to aid families experiencing homelessness in Mercer County, and their annual holiday party went a long way in helping these families experience the joy of the season despite the challenges they were facing. That year, however, HomeFront’s corporate sponsor unexpectedly backed out at the last minute, leaving the organization scrambling for a solution. Upon hearing that news, The Pennington School stepped forward without hesitation, hosting a joyous celebration and making a commitment to welcome HomeFront back the following year.

In its second year, the party was given an infusion of energy and creativity when the Peer Leaders were invited to get involved. As Bridges recalls, his classmate Molly Fitzgibbon ’96 had a brilliant idea that transformed the event into something truly extraordinary. “Molly envisioned a toy shop where parents could select gifts for their children to open on Christmas morning. This simple yet profound idea preserved dignity and pride, empowering parents with the joy of providing for their families,” recounts Bridges. Today, Santa's Toy Shop is still going strong, with hundreds of gifts donated courtesy of the School’s annual toy drive. There’s even a gift-wrapping station that helps ensure that every guest leaves the party with a bag full of presents festively wrapped for their family. Food, music, games, crafts, and yes, even a visit from Santa himself, help round out the afternoon fun.

One thing that has shifted slightly over the years is the mindset. “Initially, we approached service with the idea of ‘planning for’ the community,” explains Bridges. “Over time, we discovered the transformative power of ‘planning with’ the community. That shift—from doing for to doing with—has been essential in sustaining and growing this event into what it is today.” To aid in that collaborative effort and to help foster empathy, the Peer Leaders travel to HomeFront each year in advance of the holiday party; there, they learn about issues like home insecurity in Mercer County and the ways in which HomeFront supports our neighbors in need. Everything they learn is then shared with Grade 9 students during an outreach session led by the Peer Leaders and, ultimately, with the entire School at the weekly Chapel service in the week leading up to the big event. This shared comprehension of caring creates a service ripple effect, showcasing what Bridges calls “the best of what Pennington represents: compassion, teamwork, and a commitment to serving others.”

With the excitement of this year’s party reverberating across campus, every member of the Pennington community has been contributing their time and effort to create a truly special experience that transcends material matters. Bridges explains that the real magic of this annual event comes from designing “a space for families to momentarily escape their daily struggles, to experience joy, and to build relationships.” For three decades, Pennington’s HomeFront Holiday Party has “given families the power of choice, fostered dignity, and strengthened the bonds of community,” a tradition that simultaneously captures both the heart of the Pennington community and the true spirit of the holiday season.