One Christmas season when Jeffrey Biggs was a child, his parents told him and his siblings not to expect any gifts that year due to financial reasons.
When the family returned home from church that afternoon, there were several bags of gifts waiting for them on their doorstep.
“I’ll never forget that feeling of surprise, gratitude, and love—knowing that someone out there cared enough to do that for us,” Biggs says. “Then, about five years ago, my family went through something similar. Finances were tight again, and one evening a family we didn’t even know showed up with gifts for our children.”
Through his career as a registered behavior technician, Biggs’ experiences working with children and adults with special needs—as well as his volunteer work playing Santa at churches and neighborhood events—have continued to show him firsthand how powerful the joy of giving and helping others can be.
All of these experiences made such a significant and lasting impression on Biggs that he was inspired to start The Kringle Cause, a nonprofit organization that believes the spirit of Christmas is something that lives on all year long through acts of kindness.
As Biggs notes, The Kringle Cause’s missions are to brighten the lives of children and to support parents who are feeling overwhelmed by caring for a child with complex needs.
“Through The Kringle Cause, we bring handcrafted gifts and personal visits to children facing intellectual, physical, and life-threatening health challenges, as well as those in foster care or experiencing homelessness,” Biggs says. “Every delivery is a reminder that they matter—that someone sees and celebrates them.”
In order to accomplish this goal, Biggs is currently assembling a team of E.L.F.s—or Envoys of Love & Friendship—who are young adults with disabilities who help design, craft, and package the gifts that they deliver.
To give exhausted parents a needed break, The Kringle Cause partners with local businesses to give parents opportunities to decompress—whether it’s a dinner for two, a spa treatment, or simply a moment to breathe and feel seen.
Because Biggs understands that big goals are accomplished with small steps, he is keeping his nonprofit focused on manageable tasks.
“Right now, my immediate goal is to finish transforming my garage into our first working shop. That’s where our E.L.F.s will begin handcrafting toys, ornaments, and gifts using modern tools like laser cutters, 3D printers, and CNC machines,” he says. “From there, we’ll grow into a dedicated facility with space not only for production, but also for life skills and employment training for our E.L.F.s—things like budgeting, communication, and interview skills.”
Looking ahead, Biggs is planning a number of inclusive fundraising events, including a Kringle Cause Classic Putt-Putt Golf Tournament in the spring, Bingo Bells & Beach Towels in July, a Celebration of Movement event in the fall, and the annual State of the Pole Gala in January of 2027.
“Each one of these events will be designed so people of all abilities can participate and feel included,” he says, adding that there are a wide variety of other ways that people from throughout the East Valley can get involved.
“We’re currently looking for board members and committee members, especially for our fundraising, programs, and social media and marketing committees. We’d love volunteers who enjoy event planning, grant writing or just want to help us connect with the community,” Biggs says. “We’re also hoping to find a few board members with legal or accounting backgrounds to help us maintain strong transparency and compliance as we grow.”
Donations of materials, equipment, or funds are also all welcome, and will all be used to directly support the mission of The Kringle Cause.
“Even simply sharing our story helps. At the end of the day, we believe everyone has a little ‘Kringle’ in them—the power to make a difference through kindness,” he says.
To help keep the spirit of giving alive year-round, The Kringle Cause is also launching a Christmas Ornament Club.
“Each month, members will receive a handmade ornament created by our E.L.F.s, using the tools and machines in our workshop,” Biggs says. “Along with each ornament comes a short note from the E.L.F. who helped make it—a small reminder that someone out there is creating joy for others.”
Biggs hopes The Kringle Cause and its mission of sharing kindness with others will be a beacon of hope and light every single day.
“The world feels heavy sometimes, but kindness is contagious. When you give, it multiplies. It inspires others to do the same, and eventually, it circles back to you,” he says. “That’s why we work year-round—to keep that Christmas spirit alive and help people remember that joy and compassion don’t have an expiration date.”
"When you give, it multiplies. It inspires others to do the same."
“Every delivery is a reminder that they matter—that someone sees and celebrates them.”