Zoey’s Christmas Angels
By Sarah Cedeño // Published September 24, 2026
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Every year since 2018, the Rochester community has come together in Zoey Daggett’s memory to support area families during the holidays. Zoey’s aunt, Julie Bennett, says their family “was searching for a way to keep [Zoey’s] spirit alive” after she died from Diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma (DIPG), a fast-growing tumor affecting children between 5 and 10 years old.
“Although her life was far too short,” Julie says, “the impact she made continues to inspire us every day.”
DIPG is incurable because the rare tumor develops in the brainstem, the part of the brain at the top of the spinal cord that controls autonomic processes like breathing, heart rate, and blood pressure, along with the nerves and muscles that facilitate vision, hearing, walking, and talking, making surgery to remove the tumor too risky an option.
When no American treatment centers were available, Zoey underwent a month and a half of treatment in Cologne, Germany, but insurance wouldn’t cover international care. Costs were exorbitant and fundraising wasn’t enough.
Zoey modeled how to “live fully, love deeply, and appreciate every moment” throughout her illness, her aunt says. “She continued to show incredible strength, courage, and joy.” After she passed, Zoey’s family wanted to show up for families the way the community, “complete strangers,” Julie emphasizes, had shown up for them.
Through Zoey’s Christmas Angels Program for Families in Need, every August, Zoey’s family begins the upcoming holiday season’s campaign, a toy and need drive that allows community members to sponsor a child and shop from their wish list, provide a family with a holiday meal, make a donation so volunteers can shop and deliver on their behalf, or shop from the program’s online wish list for children in shelters.
“We knew there were families in our own community facing hardships and wondering how they would provide Christmas for their children,” Julie says.
The community gives more each year, with a growing number of volunteers, businesses and community members supporting each campaign.
Julie shares a glimpse of Zoey’s generosity: “My family is Christmas crazy… Just ask anyone who knows us. Zoey loved our Christmas shenanigans and family traditions, but most of all she loved to give gifts. Most of the time she couldn’t wait for you to unwrap a gift. She would eagerly help you get to the prize faster laughing and giggling the entire time. I miss her so much it hurts.”
Though the name Zoey’s Christmas Angels implies the giving of gifts, Julie explains that gifts aren’t always the most important need for the organization to fill, as “We see families struggling to provide winter coats, boots, bedding, food, diapers, and household essentials.”
Julie says, “Some parents are choosing between paying rent, buying groceries, or putting presents under the tree. We also have expanded our reach to families carrying emotional burdens from illness, job loss, domestic violence, or unexpected life circumstances. Often, what families need most is hope and the reassurance that they are not alone.”
The program continues to grow through collaboration and responding to community needs as they become apparent. Last year, Zoey’s Christmas Angels partnered with Primetime 585 to sponsor children in the Sickle Cell Unit at Strong Memorial Hospital, and they also supported domestic violence shelters, “ensuring those children feel remembered, loved, and celebrated,” Julie says.
“Over the years, Zoey’s Christmas Angels has provided Christmas gifts, meals, clothing, necessities, and support to more than 675 children and countless families throughout our community. It’s about carrying forward Zoey’s light, kindness, and generosity.”
Each campaign runs from August 1 – December 6, “the day our angels deliver holiday joy,” Julie says. To provide a family meal, sponsor a child, gift from a wish list, donate, or volunteer, https://zoeyschristmasangels.com/.
“Although her life was far too short,” Julie says, “the impact she made continues to inspire us every day.”
DIPG is incurable because the rare tumor develops in the brainstem, the part of the brain at the top of the spinal cord that controls autonomic processes like breathing, heart rate, and blood pressure, along with the nerves and muscles that facilitate vision, hearing, walking, and talking, making surgery to remove the tumor too risky an option.
When no American treatment centers were available, Zoey underwent a month and a half of treatment in Cologne, Germany, but insurance wouldn’t cover international care. Costs were exorbitant and fundraising wasn’t enough.
Zoey modeled how to “live fully, love deeply, and appreciate every moment” throughout her illness, her aunt says. “She continued to show incredible strength, courage, and joy.” After she passed, Zoey’s family wanted to show up for families the way the community, “complete strangers,” Julie emphasizes, had shown up for them.
Through Zoey’s Christmas Angels Program for Families in Need, every August, Zoey’s family begins the upcoming holiday season’s campaign, a toy and need drive that allows community members to sponsor a child and shop from their wish list, provide a family with a holiday meal, make a donation so volunteers can shop and deliver on their behalf, or shop from the program’s online wish list for children in shelters.
“We knew there were families in our own community facing hardships and wondering how they would provide Christmas for their children,” Julie says.
The community gives more each year, with a growing number of volunteers, businesses and community members supporting each campaign.
Julie shares a glimpse of Zoey’s generosity: “My family is Christmas crazy… Just ask anyone who knows us. Zoey loved our Christmas shenanigans and family traditions, but most of all she loved to give gifts. Most of the time she couldn’t wait for you to unwrap a gift. She would eagerly help you get to the prize faster laughing and giggling the entire time. I miss her so much it hurts.”
Though the name Zoey’s Christmas Angels implies the giving of gifts, Julie explains that gifts aren’t always the most important need for the organization to fill, as “We see families struggling to provide winter coats, boots, bedding, food, diapers, and household essentials.”
Julie says, “Some parents are choosing between paying rent, buying groceries, or putting presents under the tree. We also have expanded our reach to families carrying emotional burdens from illness, job loss, domestic violence, or unexpected life circumstances. Often, what families need most is hope and the reassurance that they are not alone.”
The program continues to grow through collaboration and responding to community needs as they become apparent. Last year, Zoey’s Christmas Angels partnered with Primetime 585 to sponsor children in the Sickle Cell Unit at Strong Memorial Hospital, and they also supported domestic violence shelters, “ensuring those children feel remembered, loved, and celebrated,” Julie says.
“Over the years, Zoey’s Christmas Angels has provided Christmas gifts, meals, clothing, necessities, and support to more than 675 children and countless families throughout our community. It’s about carrying forward Zoey’s light, kindness, and generosity.”
Each campaign runs from August 1 – December 6, “the day our angels deliver holiday joy,” Julie says. To provide a family meal, sponsor a child, gift from a wish list, donate, or volunteer, https://zoeyschristmasangels.com/.