News Releases
(NEWS RELEASE: Pueblo, CO, Sunday, Nov. 18, 2018) – The Junior League of Pueblo is thrilled to announce the return of its much-loved community impact event, “Holiday with Heroes.” This festive event, held on Thursday, Dec. 6, 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at the Olde Towne Carriage House, 101 S. Victoria on Riverwalk, is designed to bring holiday cheer to Pueblo’s foster youth while also highlighting our community Heroes.
“Holidays are happy times for most families,” said event Co-Chair Kelly Payne. “But for the growing number of foster children in our Pueblo community, many of which are displaced from homes due to drug and substance abuse, it can make an already difficult time seem hopeless.”
The event seeks to lift the spirits of these same foster children and their foster families, by providing holiday stations with games and crafts. The stations are managed by our community Heroes including military, veterans, teachers, health professionals and safety personnel that include sheriff, police, and American Medical Response – to name a few. The goal: to provide age-appropriate education and awareness in a fun and positive atmosphere while also fostering positive relationships between at-risk youth and our community Heroes.
The event includes a visit with Santa, cookie decorating, hot coca bar, and Riverwalk boat ride. The event is free for children at Pueblo’s two foster agencies, Bridges Foster Care Agency and Kids Crossing Foster Care Agency. It’s also open to the public at a ticket cost of $5 per person or $20 family pass (admits 5). Children 2 and Under are free. Proceeds help purchase Sweet Cases, which are duffel bags for foster children that are filled with a blanket, teddy bear, and hygiene kit with tooth brush and other basic necessities.
Event Co-Chair Janesssa Gallegos, who first learned about Sweet Cases when planning the event as her New Member Project in 2016, said it’s common for foster children to leave their home with their belongings in a trash bag.
“In many instances, children are quickly escaping a bad situation with police and a social worker and are only able to grab a few belongings that are thrown in a plastic bag,” said Gallegos. “The Sweet Case provides basic essentials but also a comforting gift during a scary time.”
The Junior League of Pueblo is a 501(c)(3) volunteer women’s organization that has provided valuable and necessary services to our community for nearly 80 years. Events and programs organized by the Junior League of Pueblo target the most critical needs in our community, providing opportunities to children who might not have had a chance otherwise. Our current mission seeks to address children’s needs in the areas of literacy, health and nutrition, and basic survival needs. This event meets our basic survival needs mission.
“I felt passionately about reintroducing this event because I know it has a direct impact,” said Junior League of Pueblo Community Impact Chair and Pueblo Police Sergeant Antoinette Ramos. “I see many of these same children each week, and I want them to know that they are loved, and that there are many people – like myself – who are here to help.”
If not able to attend the event, community members are invited to donate money toward the purchase of Sweet Cases. Ticket purchases and Sweet Case donations can be made by visiting the Junior League of Pueblo website at www.jlofpueblo.org. Tickets are also available at the door.
Thank you to our many sponsors:
SANTA CLAUS SPONSOR LEVEL ($1000): Southern Colorado Oral & Facial Surgery, Dr. Brandon C Payne, Shandy Clinic, KPHT 95.5 and Olde Towne Carriage House.
MRS. CLAUS SPONSOR LEVEL ($500): Accelerated Wealth, Colorado Eagle, Just Digital, Copy(s) in a Flash, Pueblo Community Health Center, Riverwalk, Rocky Mountain Eye Center, Springbok Health, Legacy Bank, Parkview, Meridith McNeal Photography and American Medical Response (AMR).
RUDOLPH SPONSOR LEVEL: ($250): D&D Marketing, Pueblo Athletic Club, Chairs with Flair, Giggles & Grin Facepainting, TR Toppers.
SNOWMAN SPONSOR LEVEL: ($100): Land Title, Junior League Member Lindsay Schwalm, Re/Max Nikki Hansen, New Leaf Therapy, Sit Means Sit, 31 Bags Terry Cook, North Shore Marina, KLI Landscaping, Station/The Clink.
For more information about the event, contact Junior League Community Impact Chair Antoinette Ramos at 719-248-5762, Fundraising Chair Emily Stewart at 719-252-8117, Event Co-Chair Kelly Payne at 719-242-1783 or Janessa Gallegos at 719-821-9491, or President Jessi Ones at 719-251-5025.
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