Hundreds of Children received gifts and posed with Santa at CACNY’s 25th annual Children’s Christmas Party on December 22nd in collaboration with CWC-Community Worship Center - Church of the Nazarene Youth Group located at 1160 Bedford Avenue in BedStuy, Brooklyn.
The event was started in 1998 by two ladies originally from Trinidad & Tobago and residing in New York for over 50 years; Dolly L. Williams, then Chairperson of CACNY, and Jean P. Alexander, Co-founder & current Executive Director.
Ms. Williams is President of the A. Williams Construction Company for over 40 years, and the former Commissioner with NYC Planning Commission. Ms Williams and her Company take social responsibility seriously - always giving back to the community by supporting numerous entities, from the Boys & Girls Club, Brooklyn Children’s Museum, and many other youth affiliated organizations.
In 1998 CACNY did not have available cash on hand, but that did not stop these ladies. Ms. Williams and Ms. Alexander went shopping for over 100 Toys, paid for by Ms. Williams and they both personally delivered them to Shelters in Brooklyn with the help of a Board Member, Mike Greaves.
After the initial year CACNY's Children Christmas Party eventually grew by leaps and bounds to serve thousands of children. CACNY joined up with New York City’s Department of Homeless Services serving over 30 Shelters throughout the 5 boroughs with new clothes, toys, shoes, warm coats, hats, gloves and scarves. These events are always festive, with Caribbean holiday & Parang music, exciting games, food, dance competitions, and entertainment before Santa appeared to deliver his truck load of toys.
For over 20 years Delivering Good (DG), formerly KIDS-Kids In Distressed Situations, have sent over tens of thousands of toys and warm winter accessories to help further CACNY's goal of bringing holiday cheer to children in need.
Our large continuous donors and supporters are Lloyd Shulman C.E.O. of J.W. Mays & Company, Sharondale Brackett-McIntosh CACNY's present Chairperson, the wonderful families and students from Xavier High School in Manhattan, and Spectrum (Charter Communications).
We thank Delivering Good for facilitating the relationship with Xavier High School.
Supporters for CACNY's year round programming include Spectrum, Con Edison, Jet Express Freight, Brooklyn Dept of New York City Department of Parks & Recreation, NY City Council via NYC Department of Youth and Community Development, NYS Senator Roxanne Persaud, Brooklyn City Council members Rita Joseph, Farah N. Louis and Crystal Hudson. Joining us for the first time this year are Healthfirst and EmblemHealth.
