History

Spider’s garage workshop, Nov 1976

In the late 1960’s on Cripps Place in Fremont, California Robert “Spider” Cantley began the December tradition of “Crippsmas Place” as a Leukemia Lymphoma Society fundraiser in memory of his mother, Nan, lost to Leukemia. For almost 40 years, Cantley and his neighbors have lit up the surrounding streets with larger-than-life figures of cartoon and animated movie characters.

From the late 1960’s until 2004 Mr. Cantley was the organizer and donated funds to Leukemia-Lymphoma. In 2004, Mr. Cantley retired and moved to Twain Harte, California

A group of neighbors, led by Kate Amon, formed the “Crippsmas Club” to take over the event. In 2006, neighbors met and started a non-profit organization and added five charities. The group is entirely unpaid volunteers.

Our six charities are now: Leukemia-Lymphoma Society, H.E.R.S. Breast Cancer Foundation, Safe Alternatives to Violent Environments, Adopt an Angel, the Ohlone Humane Society’s Wildlife Rehab Center, and the Fremont Family Resource Center.

Activities of the Crippsmas Club are focused on the preparation and running of our annual December charity fundraising event.  The motivation of the Crippsmas Club is to support Community, Charity, and Childhood Joy.  Volunteers hand out candy canes and accept donations from thousands of visitors.