CHILDREN'S CHRISTMAS DINNER PARTY

The Philadelphia Martin Luther King, Jr. Association for Nonviolence, Inc. sponsored its 1stAnnual Children’s Christmas Dinner Party for underserved children from the Philadelphia and surrounding areas at the Wyndham Franklin Plaza Hotel, 17th and Race Street on Sunday, December 19, 2004.  The Association  had targeted to accommodate 1,800 to 2,000 children, however, over 4,000 children attended and the hotel or the Association overwhelmingly did not reject any of these precious jewels.

The idea and concept of a Christmas party for homeless and disadvantaged children was conceived and established over thirteen years ago in Washington, DC by Mr. William Tucker, Vice Chair of the Bethune Dubois Institute (a King Association affiliate) and President of the Philadelphia Martin Luther King, Jr. Association for Nonviolence, Inc.  while he was near a housing project he heard two little boys demeaning the real meaning of Christmas.  Mr. Tucker was so disturbed by what he had heard that he felt a need to help these children understand what Christmas was really all about.  Thus, the first Children’s Christmas Dinner Party was held for 300 children.

In 2003, the tenth anniversary, the Bethune DuBois Institute hosted over 3,000 children in the ballroom of the Washington Hilton Hotel from Philadelphia, Washington, DC, Maryland and the Virginia areas.  Each child received a gift distributed by the U.S. Marine Corps: Toys for Tots, took home a goody bag, received a surprise visit from Santa, and was treated to a festive Christmas pageant while they feasted on a full course turkey dinner. The ballroom was decorated like a winter wonderland all made possible by volunteers who shared the same passion.  Many prominent personalities from the White House, other U.S. agencies, corporations and the professions have been on hand to share this joyous celebration with the children including, Mayor Anthony Williams, Dr. Dorothy I. Height and Mrs. Alma (Colin) Powell.

In 2004, Ms. Diane Cauley, former Human Resources Director at the former Wyndham Franklin Plaza Hotel (now Sheraton Hotel), challenged Mr. Tucker to bring the Christmas Party to Philadelphia with the task of targeting disadvantaged children in the area.  Diane approached the General Manager of the Hotel to be the 2004 Corporate Host Sponsor and the hotel graciously accepted the responsibility of hosting the even and providing volunteer support from their employees including the general manager himself who agreed to be the Corporate Host.  

Past Sponsors include Shoprite, Alpha Productions, Atlantic Express Bus Co. bodine High School, CC Transportation, Dr. & Mrs. Leon Robinson, Germantown Friends School, Hatfield Police Department, Health Partners, K’Nex Toy Company, Habro Toys, Larry Farmbry, May’s Department Store, McEldrew & Fullman, PC, Mellon Financial Bank Mr. & Dr. Eugene Bivins, Swank Audio Visuals, Pepsi Cola, World Vision, Wyndham Hotels and Resorts Corporate, Zion Baptist Church.

For many children this event was their first total Christmas experience.  They were treated to a full course Christmas dinner, a special Christmas program that embodied the meaning and spirit of Christmas and gifts/toys with surprise visits from special Christmas, Disney and Sesame Street Characters.  There was a special performance by recording artist, Kim Sledge from Sister Sledge, Tina “J” and Tamia “J” who lead the children in Christmas Carols.  The hotel was beaming with Christmas decorations and delight as hotel restaurants and activities closed for the day