The Westchester, White Plains “signature” mall dedicated their first-ever holiday tree Friday, giving post-Thanksgiving giftseekers an opportunity to sponsor living poinsettia plants pyramided magically to form a 15-foot Poinsetta Tree at the entrance to Nieman Marcus. Before the dedication at 12 noon, the effort had already raised several thousand dollars from corporate and individual sponsors of the event for St. Mary’s Rehabilitation Center for Children in Ossining.
FIRST EVER “POINSETTIA TREE” gives shoppers opportunity to sponsor a plant for a $25 donation to purchase rehabilitation and therapy equipment for the children of St. Mary’s Rehabilitation Center for Children in Ossining. Mayor Joseph Delfino joins in the dedication cermonies of The Westchester’s first Poinsettia Tree Friday. Visitors, teens over 14 are being sought for interactive work with children at the center and can sign up at the Tree. Shoppers can also register Free to win $350 in merchant-sponsored and donated services at The Westchester. WPCNR PHOTO.
Eileen Chisari, Vice President of Administration of St. Mary’s Rehabilitation Center for Children told WPCNR the donations will be used to purchase respiratory equipmen, rehabilitation devices and a combination of capitol requests. She said approximately 30 corporate sponsors had teamed together to establish the tree, already providing several thousand dollars to St. Mary’s.
Chisari said the 44-bed nonprofit pediatric healthcare facility in Ossining serves chronicly ill chidlren from birth to age 16, providing intensive rehabilation with the aim of stabilizing their illnesses. The children are primarily physcially handicapped, and they and their families are offered counseling services as well, as their stays are extended.
First Holiday Tree for The Westchester
Deborah Scates, Marketing Director of The Westchester said they were approached by Thompson & Bender, the Westchester public relations consultants, with the idea for the Holiday Tree, and she said, “We thought it would be a great opportunity. It just seemed time to do a tree.”
Scates arranged a raffle of $350 of services and merchandise, donated by fourteen merchants based in The Westchester which persons visiting the Westchester can register to win, absolutely free.
The Poinsettia Tree from a distance looks like a typical Christmas Tree, decorated with gay red finery. You would never know that it is made up of 400 individual poinsettias set on wooden platforms, which are completely invisible to the passerby.
Sponsors Already donate at least $10,000 to start. Volunteers Also Invited to Apply.
Corporate, individual and community sponsors have donated $25 or more for the plants to create the Tree. Shoppers can donate $25 and hae their names entered on the growing board of sponsors displayed at the Tree.
Ms. Chisari of St. Mary’s said she hoped the tree would inspire teen and adult volunteers to donate their time to visit the children at St. Mary’s.
Ms. Chisari advised that persons over the age of 14 interested in volunteering at St. Mary’s in Ossining were needed for therapeutic play, to accompany residents on special trips, to play with babies in the 11-bed nursery unit. Call 914-333-7019 if you are interested in volunteer service.
