Sacramento, CA (December 9, 2008) — Corps employees from the Sacramento District, in addition to volunteers from other organizations, hosted the 19th Annual Children’s Christmas Party at the Sacramento Grand Ballroom on December 9, 2008.
The annual Children’s Christmas Party was started in 1990 when a group of volunteers from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers decided to take some time off from work and do something to give back to the community during the holiday season. This group of volunteers recruited some of their friends and they decided to donate their personal time and effort to provide a Christmas celebration that these Sacramento families’ likely wouldn’t be able to experience without the support and dedication otherwise.
After beginning 18 years ago as an outreach to the adult homeless population, the Children’s Christmas Party has evolved over time to become a festive children's party that brightens the Christmas spirits of numerous children from shelters and less fortunate families that may not have the opportunity to experience a festive party such as this.
This year’s celebration was held at the Sacramento Grand Ballroom, which Cameron & Associates graciously donated at no cost and Event Architects helped to set up.
Other groups volunteering their time and effort to make this year’s party a success were Abundant Life and Lord’s Gym, All God’s Children dancers Dee Dee Dean, Placer Nugget Real Estate, Linda Finley’s Girl Scout Troop, the clowns from the Sacramento Shriner’s Hospital, all the individual volunteers from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers who help keep this event going each year and Secret Santa, who makes it possible to fund this event with his annual anonymous donation.
Activities included:
- Home-cooked Christmas lunch prepared and served by the various volunteers.
- Shriners’ Clowns will be entertaining the children with their antics, balloon animals and great personalities.
- Dee Dee Dean Dancers will wow the kids (and many of the adults) with their skills.
- Superheroes and animal characters will make the kids wild with delight.
- Crafts, face painting and a visit from Santa Claus are all part of the fun!
