The Morning Journal (Lorain, OH)
Kids get into holiday spirit
Boys and Girls Clubs holds annual celebration
Hundreds of youngsters packed into the Lorain High School Performing Arts Center on Dec. 14 in a celebration of the season.
The Boys and Girls Clubs of Lorain County held its annual holiday extravaganza with lots of music, entertainment and fun for local Lorain elementary school students.
With a stream of gifts and visits from Santa and Mrs. Claus, Christmas came early for a number of local kids.
Boys and Girls Clubs Executive Director Mike Conibear thanked its partners in the community
who helped in allowing every child to leave with a gift and in spreading the holiday spirit of giving and community.
“It’s like a culminating event for the year and celebrating for the kids and providing an opportunity they might not have,” Conibear said. “We’ve had a lot of community support and we keep getting bigger. It’s our way of celebrating the season and our kids.”
Support from Nick Abraham Ford, Griffith Paving, Lorain Rotary Club, Elyria Fire Department, and Lo- rain County Sheriff Phil Stammitti, and the Cleveland Cavaliers among others helped continue an annual holiday tradition.
This year, the Boys and Girls Clubs moved the event to Lorain High School to help highlight Lorain City Schools and its facilities.
Lorain native Tiffany Tarpley of WKYC Channel 3 served as MC for the evening and even tried her hand at magic alongside magician Michael Mage.
Singer-songwriter Ava Rowland, who works with the Boys and Girls Club at the Wellington location, performed “Santa Baby,” Michael Jackson’s “Billy Jean” along with an original work.