CHRISTMAS COMES EARLY TO BALTIMORE CITY HALL

The holiday season will arrive early at Baltimore’s City Hall and for hundreds of area underprivileged children as part of my 2nd Annual Toys for Tots holiday reception.

Armed with a few helpers, we will transform City Hall’s normally quiet rotunda into every child’s dream: a scene from Christmas morning – if that day included hundreds of bicycles, Easy Bake Ovens, basketballs, footballs, baby dolls and table-top soccer sets. 

Thanks to the generosity of local corporations, I was able to purchase hundreds of toys, like LEGO sets and skateboards, which will be on display during a holiday reception at City Hall on Tuesday, December 10 from 5:00 PM to 8:00 PM. 

During the reception, members of the general public are invited to bring one unwrapped children’s toy to gain admission to the event and enjoy live music and delicious food from some of Baltimore’s best restaurants. We will also welcome special guest Gerrard Sheppard, wide receiver for the Baltimore Ravens. 

Our goal is to pack City Hall full of wonderful toys that will ultimately put smiles on the faces of very deserving young people. During this holiday season this is one small way for us all to show that Baltimore cares. 

The Toys for Tots holiday reception represents a part of my ongoing P.L.A.Y. (Productive Lives, Active Youth) campaign. P.L.A.Y. provides Baltimore’s youth with a wide range of opportunities to strengthen their self-confidence, develop leadership skills, learn from positive role models, and be rewarded for their academic achievements. P.L.A.Y. encourages them to thrive academically, socially and emotionally. 

The following businesses have generously agreed to provide some of their finest offerings for my 2nd annual Toys for Tots holiday reception:

·         Amicci’s

·         Biddle Street Caterers

·         Birdland Bar & Grill

·         Centerplate @ The Baltimore Convention Center

·         Coca-Cola

·         Harbor East Deli

·         Land of Kush

·         Phaze 10

·         Sabatino’s

·         Safeway Bakery

·         Shiraz

I would also like to thank the following sponsors that contributed to the purchase of hundreds of children’s toys:

·         The Adams Foundation

·         The Annie E. Casey Foundation

·         BGE

·         Commercial Interiors, Inc.

·         EBA Engineering, Inc.

·         Forest City

·         Harris Jones & Malone, LLC

·         M Luis Construction

·         Mid-Atlantic Banking Company

·         Pennrose Properties, LLC

·         Seawall Development Companies

·         Spiniello Companies

·         Wal-Mart Stores, Inc.

·         Wells Fargo