Christmas-themed events to benefit children’s hospital

Photo

Akron Children’s Hospital Mahoning Valley will benefit from two upcoming holiday fundraisers: Breakfast with Santa on Saturday and Holiday Hopes and Wishes luncheon on Dec. 12. From left to right, Dennis Dively, Dillard’s visual merchandiser; Debbie Shattuck of DMW Insurance; Donna Hayat; and Kathy Dwinnells of Hopes and Wishes stand in front of the Christmas display at the hospital. JEFF LANGE | THE VINDICATOR

Staff report

BOARDMAN

The Kids’ Crew of Akron Children’s Hospital Mahoning Valley is planning two holiday fundraising events.

Santa will help raise funds for the hospital when he has breakfast with his fans from 9 to 11 a.m. Saturday at Antone’s Banquet Center, 8578 Market St.

Also, the sixth annual Holiday Hopes and Wishes luncheon will take place Dec. 12 at Mr. Anthony’s, 7440 South Ave.

Breakfast with Santa will feature a buffet, visits with Santa, a mascot parade, craft and activity stations, decorating a doughnut, face painting, singing, dancing and a chance auction.

All children will receive a gift and free photo with Santa. Guests may take their own cameras for pictures with the mascots and other entertainers. Look for Scrappy from the Mahoning Valley Scrappers, Sparky from the Youngstown Phantoms, the Chick-fil-A Cow, Disney princesses, Sir CC from the Cleveland Cavaliers, Chuck E. Cheese, YSU’s Pete and Penny Penguin, Pete Za Hut, Sprinkles and Cuppie from Dunkin Donuts and Webster from the Akron Rubber Ducks.

The cost is $20 for adults and $10 for children 10 and under. All proceeds will benefit the local programs and services of Akron Children’s.

Reservations are required and may be made online at www.akronchildrens.org/breakfast or by calling the hospital’s development office at 330-746-8712.

Major sponsors are Bob & Chuck Eddy Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep of Austintown and Grove City; Bob & Chuck Eddy Cadillac, Chevrolet, Buick of Grove City; and PNC Bank.

The Breakfast with Santa committee comprises Dennis Dively and Debbie Shattuck, co-chairs; Louise Aurilio, Betty Cmil, Janna Coffin, Julie Costas, DJ Depp, Colleen Eisenbraun, Roxy Gurlea, Donna Hayat, Paula Jakubek, Gayle Kelly, Jenny Kennedy, Shelly Marlowe, Gia Patrone, Carol Sankovic, Shirley Smith and Pattie Welsh.

The Holiday Hopes and Wishes luncheon will begin at 10 a.m., and the meal served at 11:30. The cost is $35 per person, and advance reservations are required. Make reservations online at www.akronchildrens.org/hopesandwishes or by calling 330-746-8712. All proceeds benefit the hospital’s Palliative Care Fund.

The luncheon will feature a basket raffle, silent auction, holiday bake shoppe and a grand raffle for an Apple iPad Air, Beats by Dre Portable Beatbox or an LG 32-inch flat screen television.

Luncheon committee members are Kathy Dwinnells, Kathy Gough and Hayat, co-chairs; Kym Baker, Kathy Brauer, Cathy Campana, Cmil, Costas, Donna Chiarelli, Georgia D’Andrea, Depp, Mary Dulay, Jakubek, Kelly, Diana McDonald, Margaret Nigro, Linda Lee Siegle, Mary Lou Shirilla, Katie Solvesky and Welsh.

Corporate sponsorships are available. Sponsors as of Nov. 26 are Bob & Chuck Eddy Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep of Austintown and Grove City; Bob & Chuck Eddy Cadillac, Chevrolet, Buick of Grove City; Boardman Subaru; Comprehensive Logistics; DeBartolo Corp.; Homecare with Heart; Huntington Bank; Merrill Lynch — the Jones Group; and Vallourec Star.

The Kids’ Crew of Akron Children’s Hospital is a committee of community volunteers who want to help children of the Mahoning Valley. It provides assistance with hospital-sponsored events and fundraising. Membership is open to anyone 18 or older. Dues are $15.

Akron Children’s Hospital has been caring for children from Youngstown, Warren and surrounding communities for more than 50 years. The largest pediatric provider in Northeast Ohio, it has been ranked a Best Children’s Hospital by U.S. News & World Report.

Akron Children’s Beeghly Campus is a 25-bed pediatric hospital, offering a 24/7 emergency department and surgical, radiology, laboratory, rehabilitation and EEG-ECHO-EKG services along with a hematology-oncology clinic and infusion center. For information visit www.akronchildrens.org/mv.