Drives with a Mission

THE 2024
Sugarplum Sled

Gift Wish List

Shop
List

And bring back the magic of the most magical time of the year!

Everyday Delivery

Emergency Relief

Delivering urgent, targeted support to NYC public school families in need.

Who We Help

Holiday Delivery

The 2024
Sugarplum Sled Gift LIST IS LIVE!

Fulfilling the holiday Gift Wishes requested by NYC public school kids in need.

Sugarplums on PIX

ON A MISSION

Driving to deliver the urgent, requested needs of housing-insecure NYC public school children and their families who are identified to us by public school and social welfare professionals. Join us.

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Services

The mission of the Sled is to assist low-income NYC Public School students and their families. Nearly 90% of the students we assist are homeless or temporarily housed, living in shelters or other doubled or tripled up with other extended family in temporary housing.

We deliver individualized assistance to children and families who are identified to us through school professionals. The Service Sled coordinates with school officials throughout the year while our Sugarplum Sled launches in time for Thanksgiving and ends with the New Year. Learn more about our drives or find out about established city services for those with needs beyond our mission.

If you know of a family in need who meets the criteria mentioned above, please encourage them to reach out to their children's school professionals about their needs. We hope to help as many students and their families as feasible.

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Who We Help

Sugarplums on PIX

About Us Anchor

The Sled Drivers

Your group are like magic fairies.
You are saving people's lives. I swear, you are the best thing about what I do.

Manager, Office of Community Schools

Read more said about the Sled

Co-Founder

Katie Sperling

Katie is a former adjunct assistant professor of political science at Columbia and has held positions as PTA president, Treasurer and Fundraiser at three public schools. She served on a Joint Task Force for Gifted and Talented Education chaired by Borough Presidents Diaz and Adams. She has two graduates of NYC public-school schools.

Co Founder

Rana Strazza

A life-long performer, Rana is a director, producer, composer, and screenwriter. She executive-produced corporate and theatrical events for over a decade and created a developmental theater that trained hundreds of public school students in the Arts, introducing many to professional representation and careers (including her two daughters).

Co-Founder

Erica Hill

Erica is co-owner and founder of Sparrow Funeral Homes with locations in Brooklyn and Los Angeles. A former documentary filmmaker whose work has won numerous awards and can be seen on Amazon, she is most proud to be one of the co-founders of The Sled. She has two young adult daughters who attended New York City public schools.

Co-Founder

Lisa Gottheil

Lisa Gottheil is the co-founder of Grandstand Media, one of the most respected and in-demand music publicity firms in the world. Gottheil is also on the board of the non-profit Josh's Fund which is dedicated to providing educational support to oncology nurses as well as the board of Sounds of Saving, a NYC-based non profit working in the Mental Healthx Music space. She lives in New York with her husband and two teenage children.

Board Member

Susan Townes

Susan has been a constant contributor to the Sled and recently joined the Board. She formerly worked in technology at various software companies and JP Morgan Chase, and ended her career as Parent Coordinator at PS 276. She also was PTA Co-President at her daughter’s NYC public elementary and high school for nine years. She lives in New York and New Jersey with her husband.

Social Media Coordinator

Alex West

A NYC native and proud graduate of the city’s public school system, Alex holds undergraduate and graduate degrees in Biomedical Engineering from the University of Vermont and the University of Southern California. A data manager at NYC-based startup, Fitbiomics, she dedicates time and technical expertise through community work with the Sled, supporting the city and schools that shaped her.