Dec. 8, 2006 — A collection of local organizations has scheduled a special holiday concert Tuesday to benefit the children of St. Croix during the holiday season.
The Holiday Hope Benefit will take place from 7 p.m. to 11 p.m. Tuesday at the Divi Carina Bay Casino Ballroom, with entertainment by De Apostle, complementary hors d'oeuvres and a cash bar, according to a news release from benefit organizers.
"I know how it is growing up on St. Croix," said De Apostle, who will perform for free. "Anything I can do for the kids, I will."
Organizers are the St. Croix Hotel and Tourism Association, the Marine Toys for Tots Foundation, Boys and Girls Club of St. Croix and Professional Holding Company (PHC), according to the news release.
The Marine Toys for Tots Foundation has selected members of the St. Croix Hotel and Tourism Association as drop-off locations for the toys. Admission is two new, unwrapped toys or a $20 Toys for Tots donation at the following participating locations before Tuesday evening:
Seaborne Airlines
The Palms at Pelican Cove
King Christian Hotel
Divi Carina Bay Resort and Casino
Olympic Rent-A-Car
Anything Goes Deli
Kokomos
Attendees may also make their admission donations at the door of the Divi Ballroom Tuesday evening.
"Every child deserves a good Christmas," said Staff Sgt. Erich Cuadros, Toys for Tots Coordinator for Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands.
Toys collected for the Holiday Hope Benefit will go to the Boys and Girls Club of St. Croix, Christiansted and Frederiksted branches, as well as other worthy organizations of need based on the number of toys collected.
"Give a child a fish, feed him for a day," said Steven Hardee, a member of the PHC board. "Teach him to fish, feed him for a lifetime. Its our goal to give the children of St. Croix the tools and education they need to be successful adults."
PHC has pledged $8000 worth of computer equipment and software suitable for children ages pre-school through high school for the Frederiksted Boys and Girls Club, the news release said. From January through May, PHC employees will spend two hours a day, three days a week, teaching children at the Frederiksted Club to use the new computers and software.
The St. Croix Hotel and Tourism Association is making significant efforts to match the $8000 donation from PHC, according to the news release. Many members of the association, as well as members of the St. Croix community, have donated items to the Holiday Hope Benefit silent auction. In addition, three men and three women have volunteered for a Date Auction at the event. All silent and live-auction proceeds go toward establishing a computer lab at the Frederiksted Boys and Girls Club.
"On behalf of the parents, staff and members of the Boys and Girls Club, we would like to say a big thank you for this donation," said Malik Stridiron, unit director of the Boys and Girls Club. "This gesture surely identifies how the Boys and Girls Club stays in existence — through donations of the people and organizations in the community. It takes a village to raise a child. I know this will surely bring smiles on their faces."
The president of the St. Croix Hotel and Tourism Association, Pat Henry, also offered words of thanks, according to the news release.
"The St. Croix Hotel and Tourism Association is pleased to partner with a business sector, Professional Holding Company, as well as the philanthropic sector, the Marine Toys for Tots Foundation and the Boys and Girls Club of St. Croix, to make this Christmas special for the children of St. Croix and impact their educational future," Henry said.
Organizers offer special thanks to the following for making this Holiday Hope Benefit come to fruition:
Marine Toys for Tots Foundation
Boys and Girls Club of St. Croix
Professional Holding Company
LP Records, De Apostle
Seaborne Airlines
VisitTheVI.com
Isle 95
TV2
Divi Carina Bay Resort and Casino
Carambola Beach Resort
Olympic Rent-A-Car
Cottages by the Sea
West Indies Corporation
St. Croix Hotel and Tourism Association
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