Franklin Graham participated in Fox News’ yearly Christmas tree lighting event in New York City on Friday evening, sharing a message of faith, generosity, and what he described as “the first gift” of Christmas – God’s gift of His Son, Jesus Christ.
The president and CEO of Samaritan’s Purse and the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association also drew attention to this season’s objective for Operation Christmas Child, aiming to send over 13 million shoeboxes filled with gifts to children in more than 130 nations.
Graham made a live appearance on Fox Square alongside hosts and numerous attendees for the network’s holiday kickoff, showcasing one of the gift boxes prepared by his 3-year-old granddaughter.
The box, containing a Minnie Mouse plush toy, school supplies, and a handwritten message she helped create with her family, symbolized the type of gift Samaritan’s Purse has been distributing globally for nearly 30 years.
“This year, we anticipate having around 13 million of these boxes,” Graham stated. “Each includes approximately 30 gifts. Our aim is to teach children the significance of giving. God offered His Son, Jesus Christ — and we desire for the children of the world to grasp the value of receiving a gift, and for the children who pack the boxes, the value of learning to give.”
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Graham expressed gratitude to Fox News employees, who packed over 400 shoeboxes prior to National Collection Week (Nov. 17–24).
“The assistance from Fox — in packing boxes — has been remarkable,” Graham noted. “It’s a fantastic partnership.”
Hosts on stage encouraged viewers to get involved by scanning the QR code displayed on-screen, which directed them to Samaritan’s Purse packing guidelines.
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The segment occurred during the ceremony’s faith-based portion, with Graham anchoring the moment in the biblical foundation of Christmas.
“Christmas revolves around giving,” he said. “God presented the initial gift — His Son, Jesus Christ, who came to absolve our sins. During Christmas, we celebrate Jesus Christ and reflect on His actions for us.”
Operation Christmas Child, managed by Samaritan’s Purse, is currently in its National Collection Week, lasting through Monday. Nearly 5,000 drop-off locations are available nationwide for families and churches to drop off packed boxes filled with toys, hygiene products, and school materials.
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The project engages roughly 300,000 volunteers and reaches remote jungles, city slums, mountainside villages, and over 1,000 remote Pacific islands, according to Samaritan’s Purse. Shoeboxes gathered in the U.S. are combined with presents from across the globe to assist children in challenging or isolated areas.
“At Samaritan’s Purse, we are fortunate to share the authentic meaning of Christmas with millions of children worldwide through Operation Christmas Child,” Graham shared with Fox News Digital in an exclusive statement. “I am deeply thankful for each person who contributes to making this project feasible, and for every shoebox that allows us to convey the Good News of Jesus Christ to another child.”
Families also have the option to create a shoebox online by selecting items digitally and adding a photograph or personalized message.
Operation Christmas Child was initiated in 1993 and has since delivered over 232 million boxes to children in more than 170 countries and territories. Many distributions are organized through local churches, pairing the gifts with evangelistic programs and community outreach efforts.
“This presents an opportunity for children to give to someone else without expecting anything in return,” Graham explained. “We inhabit a selfish world — yet this instills in the upcoming generation the significance of giving.”
As the Christmas tree lights illuminated the crowds assembled in midtown Manhattan, Graham’s message connected the ceremony back to the reason millions of families participate in the annual shoebox campaign.
“God loved the world so much that He gave His only Son,” he stated. “That encapsulates the essence of Christmas.”
Individuals can pack a shoebox in person or create one online at SamaritansPurse.org/OCC-FoxNews. A QR code provided by Samaritan’s Purse can also be included or displayed on-screen.
