03 Jan NFL YET 2013 Christmas Festival and Toy Give Away
On a sunny Miami afternoon, visitors to the NFL YET Center located at Gwen Cherry Park were “greeted” by an inflatable Mickey Mouse wearing a Santa suit, and positioned in a large green gift box with a red bow. As guests made their way to the gym, children participated in a variety of outdoor activities, including a petting zoo featuring a guinea pig, birds, goats, and ducks. They enjoyed having their faces painted with spiders, Miami Heat logos, or “Hello Kitty” designs. Four bounce houses featuring sliding boards kept the children busy when they weren’t involved in free play on the playground. Snow cones helped to keep them cool.
This was the 2013 Annual Christmas Festival and Toy-Give-Away where over 500 individuals of all ages were gathering to watch a holiday program and participate in the “Gwen Cherry Park Foundation’s Toy Giveaway”. Tanitasha Harris, is the mother of eight year old Makayla Brown, and six year old Zamar Guy. “I think the program is really important, especially for children who don’t get help at home. They attend Dolphins games, Communities In Schools (CIS) for tutoring, field trips, basketball and now T-ball. The tutoring is great. The employees are great.”
There was an excited air of expectation as Jerry Sawyer, Board member with Gwen Cherry Park Foundation, began the program by greeting everyone in his role as Master of Ceremonies. Mr. Sawyer introduced H.T. Smith, Chairman of the Board , who spoke about Commissioner Jean Monestime’s invaluable and consistent support for the NFL YET Center and Gwen Cherry Park. Board members Elaine Black and Erica Wright were also recognized for their service. Mr. Smith introduced the much anticipated dance presentation by Simone’s Dance Group. Simone’s Dance Group featured 34 girls dressed in red and gold unitards, red legwarmers, wearing red bows around their hair. They danced to the Christmas classic “Jingle Bells”. The audience enjoyed the presentation and applauded loudly for the young dancers.
Next, five members of Precious Touch Dance Team presented plaques and pictures to each Board Member of the Gwen Cherry Park Foundation. Afterwards, Commissioner Monestime greeted the audience with “Merry Christmas!” He stated he hopes that they “get to enjoy the next few days with family and friends.”
Jerry Sawyer invited H. T. Smith back to the stage for presentation of the 2013 Guardian Angel Award Art Xiques. Mr. Xiques said ,”I only wish I could have done more for the children”.
Following the award presentation, 15 dancers from the Gwen Cherry Park Dance Team, dressed all in black, danced as a prelude to a presentation to members of the center’s championship football team.
The Gwen Cherry Bulls Pee Wee team won the 2013 Pop Warner National Championship and were awarded medals and footballs which were presented by Mr. Sawyer. Board members of the Gwen Cherry Park Foundation, Commissioner Monestime , and Guardian Angel Awardee Art Xiques posed for pictures with the team.
After the awards were given to the Bulls, MLK Dancers , a group of 16 girls dressed in red and white , performed a high stepping, leg –kicking, dance to “All I Want For Christmas.” They were followed by the Gwen Cherry Park Dancers, dressed all in black, who performed a dance featuring somersaults and splits.
The parents in the audience were very happy with the program. India Daniels is a mother of four children, two of whom, Nicholas, aged 10, and Nichole, aged 12, attended the summer camp at the center. She feels that their participation “keeps the kids active; (it) keeps them on track with school so they don’t forget.”
At the conclusion of the program, the children received instructions prior to going to the “Gifting Room.” Every child received a wristband for their particular age group. The gifts were presented in an age appropriate setting. Members of the Board of the Gwen Cherry Park Foundation, Commissioner Monestime, Guardian Angel Awardee Art Xiques, and Vicki Antonio, (Executive Director of the Gwen Cherry Park Foundation,) gathered in the “Gifting Room” to welcome the children as they entered.
Some of the many, many gifts available for selection included tea time sets, dolls, air hockey sets, sandbox toys, jewelry making kits, air brush tattoo sets, head phones, foos-ball table top soccer sets, Star Wars table top sets, billiards sets, telescopes, toy helicopters, watches, magic trick instructional sets, digital cameras, costume jewelry, radio-controlled cars, and games such as Monopoly, Twister, Nab-it, and Life.
As he watched the delighted children exit the room, Commissioner Monestime stated, “I’m so happy that I’m able year after year to contribute to the lives of the children of Gwen Cherry. It’s a pleasure to put smiles on their faces.”
Many of the parents exiting the room with their young children made comments such as “great”, “lovely”, “it was good”, and “it was nice.” Adults and children were happy with the events of the day.
Written by Darlene Gay