Obama answers 'Dear Santa' letter from Englewood boy asking for safety

CHICAGO (WLS) -- Malik Bryant, 13, wanted one thing for Christmas: safety. The Englewood boy wrote about it in a letter to Santa Claus and President Barack Obama answered.

"All I ask for is for safety. I just wanna be safe," Malik wrote in his letter after telling Santa about himself, his family and school.

"Each day I strive to ensure communities like yours are safe places to dream, discover, and grow. Please know your security is a priority for me in everything I do as President," Obama wrote in a reply. "If you dare to be bold and creative, work hard every day, and care for others, I'm confident you can achieve anything you imagine."

Obama then wished Malik and his family the best for the coming year, closing with, "I will be rooting for you."

Malik was one of around 8,500 Chicago Public Schools students who wrote letters to Santa in a program run by Direct-Effect Charities. Someone in the program was touched by the request and had the letter forwarded to the White House.