Our speaker will be Michael Rielly, president of the James D. Rielly Foundation, a Bristol-based nonprofit he founded in 2017 in honor of his grandfather, James D. “Jim” Rielly. The Foundation supports children and families of military members, veterans, law enforcement officers, firefighters, and other first responders who are facing hardship, illness, or loss. Its best-known program is the Bristol Santa House, a free, volunteer-run Christmas experience that welcomes thousands of visitors each year and provides private visits for children and adults with disabilities and their families.
Michael has portrayed Santa Claus since he was eight years old, continuing a family tradition that began with his grandfather in 1927. He was inducted into the International Santa Claus Hall of Fame in 2019 and also serves as Bristol’s Official Town Crier, a position his grandfather once held.