PHOENIX -- Debbie Castaldo can still remember the day the idea was born.
"We were all standing around one morning after a weekend lamenting about The Elf on the Shelf and the work that goes into it, and all the pictures that people are posting and how hard it is to be the perfect parent," said Castaldo, the D-backs' vice president of corporate and community impact.
And that's when it hit them: What if all that work and energy that people put into moving The Elf on the Shelf around each night was channeled into something positive?
Thus began the "You've Been Elfed" program.
After getting approval from D-backs president/CEO Derrick Hall -- who has pushed the club's charity arm to new heights during his tenure -- the community affairs department printed out 20 giant elf pictures with the following message:
There once was a Team Player -- Good Elf
Who loved putting others before self.
The elf loves our fans and loves to give back
After all, Good Elf is an awesome D-back.
Good Elf needs more elves to spread holiday cheer
Do kind things for strangers -- your mission is clear.
Every Team Player elf can help spread joy -- A turkey, some clothing, a gift or a toy.
Tell them of kindness and love from us all
It's the holiday season, no gift is too small.
Sharing is caring and you might have guessed --
This is a special reminder, we are all truly blessed.
Use this money on a stranger in need
Then email to share your good deed.
One night after the employees had gone home, the 20 elves, along with a $100 bill, were taped to the doors or computers of select employees.
"'You've Been Elfed' has become a fun and random way to include so many of our employees," Hall said. "We provide them with some added resources to make the holiday season brighter for others. We encourage all of our employees to give back to those in need, and this is another way for us to partner with them to do so and to help us impact the community in a positive fashion."
Little did anybody know just how much the idea would take off, as employees began nominating others like crazy. Even employees who weren't nominated wanted in on the action, and the organization made sure that no employee who wanted to participate was left out.
Then, the emails started rolling in.
Most employees matched the $100 with money of their own and took great care in selecting how to use it.
One headed to Target to price socks to give out and ran into a family of seven living in their minivan in the parking lot. The employee rented them a room at Motel 6, bought them food, filled their gas tank and helped get them information on local shelters.
One employee, whose husband is a teacher at an elementary school with many low-income families, adopted five students off the school's Angel Tree and not only matched the $100 with their own money, but used money that they were going to spend on Christmas gifts for each other to buy the five kids new shirts, toys and games.
Another employee, whose husband is a veteran, matched the $100 and bought numerous items off the Madison Street Veterans Association wish list.
The stories just kept coming and coming.
"I would sit at my desk and read the emails and cry, because we had absolutely no concept of just how much good this was going to spread," Castaldo said. "It was unbelievable, the care and the concern and the kindness and the compassion our employees showed. But I think what I learned most is how personal philanthropy is, how personal it is to want to give back and to have the opportunity to take care of others."