‘Lil’ Jeannetta Robinson Gifts of Love’ Program Fulfills Christmas Wishes

On Saturday, December 27, 2025, Charles (Butch) Walton the son of the late community leader Jeannetta Simpson Robinson, along with his sons, Mike Brown, and Terence Smith shared in a family legacy of presenting the annual” Lil’ Jeannetta Robinson Gifts of Love Program” in partnership with United Way Of Greater Milwaukee & Waukesha at the H.W. Longfellow Elementary School. The event honors Lil’ Jeannetta (Little Netta) Robinson the granddaughter of Jeannetta. The idea for the program started at Little Netta’s six birthday party on December 27, 1980 when she gave away her gifts to children attending her party after learning they did not receive gifts for Christmas. Tragically Little Netta was murdered in 1984 at age 9, along with her mother Cheryl Robinson, who was only 25.

Little Netta’s kindness and spirit of giving lives on is through the “Lil’ Jeannetta Robinson Gifts of Love Program,” which provides Christmas gifts and copies of “Little Netta’s Gift,” a children’s book about the gift of kindness and joy of giving, to economically disadvantaged children. Rev. Walton’s son Michael Brown is the author/publisher of the children’s book “Little Netta’s Gift” that is read and distributed to every child at each school the program visits, Carver Academy, formerly known as Palmer Elementary, the elementary school Lil’ Jeannetta attended. Thanks to the program an partners Bader Philanthropies, SOULSTIR, Milwaukee Brewers Community Foundation and many others, along with administrative support from United Way of Greater Milwaukee and Waukesha County, more than 2,500 children at 8 Milwaukee elementary schools have received Christmas gifts and a free copy of “Little Netta’s Gift.“