Special to WPCNR: Westchester County’s first-ever Poinsettia Tree fundraising event at The Westchester in White Plains raised more than $6,000 for St. Mary’s Rehabilitation Center for Children in Ossining.
Added to this success is an early invitation from mall management for St. Mary’s to hold this unique two-week event again next year, establishing what could become an annual Holiday tradition at The Westchester.
THE POINSETTIA TREE TO BECOME A “WESTCHESTER TRADITION:” The first-ever Poinsettia Tree at The Westchester succeeded in raising $6,000 for St. Mary’s Rehabiliation Center for Children in Ossining.
WPCNR PHOTO.
Individuals and corporations throughout the area made donations by sponsoring some of the 400 poinsettia plants on the 15-foot tree. All monies collected are going directly to St. Mary’s, a non-profit organization dedicated to providing long-term health care for children with special needs and disabilities, from birth to 18 years.
“We are so pleased with the outcome of this event, and so grateful to all of those who helped make St. Mary’s a brighter place for the Holidays,” said Eileen Chisari, Vice President of Administration at the Rehabilitation Center. “We want to say a special ‘thank you’ to The Westchester for partnering with us on this beautiful display during their busy Holiday season, to WHUD Radio (100.7 FM) for its promotional support, and to Cushman & Wakefield Inc., a major sponsor of the event.”
St. Mary’s also received a special gift from an Ossining couple who made a $300 donation in lieu of buying presents for each other this year. “This couple has a special needs daughter themselves, and when they saw the Poinsettia Tree in the mall, they decided to help. We are very grateful to them,” said Ms. Chisari.
Debbie Scates, Director of Marketing for The Westchester explained that it was only natural that they extend the invitation to St. Mary’s to return again next year, since the unique Holiday fundraiser has tremendous potential to help needy children for the years to come. “Both customers and retailers really enjoyed the Poinsettia Tree, plus it added a wonderful touch to our Holiday décor,” she said. “We were particularly pleased to sponsor several poinsettia plants and support St. Mary’s raffle, and we look forward to working with them again.”
Many of The Westchester retailers also sponsored poinsettia plants and donated more $350 in gift certificates for a raffle drawing, which went to a lucky Tarrytown resident.
St. Mary’s Rehabilitation Center for Children, a 44-bed subacute, inpatient facility is a member of St. Mary’s Healthcare System for Children, which serves the entire New York metropolitan area. Other participating members include: St. Mary’s Hospital for Children, a 97-bed inpatient facility in Bayside, NY; St. Mary’s Home Care Programs; St. Mary’s Medical Day Care Program; and St. Mary’s Case Management Programs.
St. Mary’s is New York’s premier provider of complex medical care and intensive rehabilitative services to children with special healthcare needs from birth to 18 years of age. This event is sponsored by St. Mary’s Foundation for Children. For more information about St. Mary’s, please call (914) 333-7018 or visit the St. Mary’s website at www.stmaryskids.org.