“Holiday Magic for Kids 2008” was a huge success with the biggest number of guests in the Coalition’s history. Nearly 3,000 children attended and we were lucky to have almost enough gifts for all. But, there’s bad news and good news; This is the first year we ran short of gifts, mostly for the older kids. This was partly due to a decrease in donations to Toys for Tots and a general reflection of the tough economic conditions in San Diego County. The good news more than made up for it.
Never before did we have so much food for the families to take home. The children were dazzled throughout the day by the mascots, clowns, face painters and general great fun. A U.S. Marine Corps Color Guard marched into Golden Hall with the national colors and the audience sang the national anthem to open the show.
Emcee Joe Bauer from Channel 6, joked with the audience and did the introductions. San Diego Padres legendary pitcher Randy Jones, Honorary chair, and Bauer shared their dialog with the audience and it was as good as any comic act around. Former San Diego Charger Pastor Miles McPherson from The Rock Church in Pt. Loma continued with the upbeat enthusiasm and gave an invocation directed toward the children but enjoyed by all present. His message was as endearing as a hug and he reminded the audience how the Christmas season celebrates the birth of Jesus Christ. Then we got really serious when the Buffalo Soldiers escorted Santa and Mrs. Claus into the hall while “Here Comes Santa Claus” accompanied their entrance. This was what the kids were waiting for and started the party off with a bang.
The entertainment throughout the day was, in a word, spectacular!
Ronald McDonald delighted the crowd with his wonderful magic show, the Swamp Critters gave down-home music and patter and the Valhalla High School Chorus gave beautiful renditions of Christmas music. Dance Magic performed with the cutest routines imaginable and the Rock Church Hula Ministry soothed the audience with their gentle music and dance.
All-Star Clowns, North County Clown Conspiracy, and the famous Al Bahr comics played with the kids, did face painting and made balloon animals. There was some hula-hooping that kept the kids and everyone else in stitches. All in all, they spread their mirth and zany antics thick and everybody loved them!
It seemed it couldn’t get better than that, but it did! The Marines landed in force and were impressive in their dress blues. They interacted with the kids all through the hall. Shamu, the SanDiego Padres’ Friar,. CHP’s “Chipper,” McRuff, Hometown Bees, Miss San Diego 2008, Miss San Diego Outstanding Teen ‘08 and the U.S. Coast Guard mascot mixed with the crowd throughout the day..
After the kids had their fill, they left with their gifts and collected food to take home. Food donations were abundant: $1300.00 worth of 9-pound chickens from Medtronics, a truckload of produce and other non-perishables from Feeding America San Diego, 2500 pieces of fresh fruit and 900 huge apple pies from Henry’s Markets in East Lake and Chula Vista. Henry’s also did a toy collection for the kids. The families left tired but beaming. It was going to be a wonderful Christmas for them after all! Be sure to check out photos of the party on our Christmas party link!
“Holiday Magic for Kids 2009″ will be held on December 19th at Golden Hall, Community Concourse, 202 B Street. We will begin registration on October 1, 2009. More updates will be posted as we get closer to the event.
We try to reach every disadvantaged child in San Diego who would like to be part of this annual event. The children are registered by social workers, schools, and persons who certify they are at or below poverty level. The Coalition receives copies of the registrations and the originals are given to the parents or guardians who turn them in at the door for admission to the party. Each year, our Board of Directors hopes we will have enough donated toys, refreshments and wrapping materials for all the kids. And each year it seems like a replication of “the miracle of the loaves and fishes” when toys that are left over are given to the San Diego Police Department to distribute to needy families. Norma Rossi, founder of the Coalition, always responded this way when asked if there would be enough toys and refreshments for the kids. “God knows how many kids we will have, even if I don’t, and there will be enough for everybody and some left over.” And she’s never been wrong.
Thank you to the community and to the many volunteers for helping us make the “Holiday Magic for Kids” extra special this year. In addition to a wrapped gift for each child, we had book giveaways, crafts for all ages, face painting, entertainment and plenty of food for the families to take home for a holiday dinner. We also had a special visit from Santa Himself. 
Randy Jones, Legendary Padres Pitcher ws the “Honorary Chair”
