Many children across Connecticut dreamed of getting their favorite gifts and toys today, but some of them might not have had a happy holiday if not for an event in Hartford that gave a thousand kids plenty reason to smile.
It was all about the kids as Gary Craig's 25th Annual We Are the Children Christmas Party got children and their parents rocking out for the holiday.
“Look around – the smiles, the laughter, the dancing,” said Denise Steves of Hartford. “This is wonderful.” Steves, her son and 2-year-old daughter wore big, bright smiles as they took in all the fun at the event inside the XL Center.
“The song says it’s the most wonderful time of the year,” Steves added. “You get together with family and friends you haven't seen in a long time.”
The dozens of people wearing event shirts helping out at the party are volunteers – 100 percent of them. And all the activities and gifts were sponsored by people and companies from right here in Connecticut.
“ I know kind of what to expect when I walk into the room, but every year I'm just blown away by how many kids are here, how many volunteers, and that we actually can make the party happen after all our work,” said Gary Craig, founder of We Are the Children.
Craig's organization provides a very merry Christmas to nearly a thousand children across Connecticut who truly deserve this holiday cheer and might not have had it without this event.
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“I always say if one of these kids grows up and does something for somebody else because of their experience here,” said Craig, “then I've done my job.”
And Denise Steve's children and others seemed to have been inspired by Craig's message for this Christmas and hopefully many years to come.
For more information, visit 96.5 TIC's We Are The Children webpage.
