By Lexie Kauffman ‘22
On July 8, 2020, tragedy struck Ventura County, California. Actress Naya Rivera tragically drowned while boating with her young son in Lake Piru. The Glee actress heroically saved her son before being pulled under by a current.
In wake of her untimely death, her friends and family created a Christmas charity drive coined “Snixxmas” in her honor. Rivera’s friends knew her as “Snixx” and she annually threw Christmas parties that she called “Snixxmas.”
Rivera was also known for her work with LA’s Alexandria House, a transitional home for women and children. According to their website, Alexandria House works to “provide safe and supportive housing for women and children in the process of moving from emergency shelter to economic stability and permanent housing.”
Her loved ones combined Rivera’s love of Christmas and her passion for this charity to keep her memory alive every Christmas as “Team Snixxmas.”
Last year, the first charity drive was a Christmas-themed zoom where many former Glee cast and crew members shared their favorite memories of Naya. They raised over $117,000 for Alexandria House. Now, a year later, they are hoping to make a similar impact.
“This year we’re determined to make an even bigger impact, so we’ve upped our goal in the hopes of raising $150,000 for Alexandria House,” Team Snixxmas wrote on the GoFundMe for Snixxmas. “The 2nd Annual Snixxmas Charity Drive will run from December 3rd-17th, culminating in a Livestream Event with the Glee family, featuring performances, games, raffles, and some of our favorite memories of Naya.”
Naya Rivera is no longer with us, but her memory and legacy will always persevere. To donate to LA’s Alexandria House in Naya’s honor, follow the link below:
Link to donate: https://www.gofundme.com/f/snixxmas2