Elizabeth Sampson makes an emotional pitch to her theatre company to raise money for the children who live at the Vermont Family Apartments community.
Elizabeth is grateful to The Road Theatre Company members who donate so selflessly every year to these children: “The Artistic Directors Taylor Gilbert and Sam Anderson, along with the company members, turn out their pockets to me directly, or they donate what they can to the PayPal account – right up to the last minute of me going to Marshall’s to purchase toys. Some of them specifically make sure we can get the Target gift cards for the 13 to 16 year olds. It is an enormous act of generosity, and I am humbled by them every year.”
Elizabeth raised $600 the first year, enough to buy toys for the 40 or so children in the building. The next year she raised a little bit more and was able to cover toys and a real tree. The following year she raised over a thousand dollars and was able to cover toys, a tree, a Santa suit, and money towards a holiday hot meal. This continued until last year, when Road Company member David Gionnopolis volunteered to be the Santa Claus in his own Santa suit and hand out the toys. Quite a treat for the kids!
This year, there are 64 children at Vermont, and another Road company member, Keelia Flinn, also wanted to help out. She owns and runs a dojo in Studio City (Studio City Martial Arts) where she put out a donation box. She gathered 26 wonderful children’s gifts. Between the money Elizabeth raised and the Martial Arts dojo, this was a good year for the children at Vermont Family Apartments.
Elizabeth not only raises the funds, she also shops for the gifts, and makes sure they’re wrapped and labeled. Here is the NoHo Senior Arts Colony team, along with Elizabeth and NoHo SAC Program Director Mark Salyer, with the gifts they wrapped for the children.
On the big day, a full meal is served, and a live DJ entertains, made possible by EngAGE Program Director at Vermont Family Apartments, Sandra Vargas. Volunteer Tony, before he is Santa, assists with set ups and preparations. Kids wait impatiently outside the door. The room fills. Finally, Santa enters . . . and there is a hush.
Santa moves through the room, then finds his seat. An excited little girl sneaks a peak around the Christmas tree. Santa has a pink bear for her, and her hands go up to her mouth in amazement!
The youngest are first to visit Santa. Not a single one cried, and only one pulled his beard off! Curiosity?
Next, the big kids lined up, and checked out the beautifully decorated Christmas tree. They were happy to receive their gifts and gift cards.
The gifts that remained are on site, and Sandra will give them to the kids who were not able to attend.
One thing we know: as long as there are children at Vermont Family Apartments . . .
. . . and kindhearted volunteers and generous supporters . . .
. . . Santa will be back!
EngAGE thanks Elizabeth Sampson, the generous members of The Road Theatre Company, Studio City Martial Arts, the NoHo SAC team, and everyone else who donated and volunteered time and effort to create another merry holiday for the children at Vermont Family Apartments.
EngAGE changes lives by transforming affordable senior and multigenerational apartment communities into vibrant centers of learning, wellness, and creativity.
EngAGE C.O.O.: Nancy Goodhart
Program Director: Elizabeth Sampson serves in other EngAGE communities and volunteers for the Vermont Family Apartments Toy Drive.
December 20, 2018
Program Director: Sandra Vargas – Vermont Family Apartments
Program Director: Mark Salyer – NoHo SAC
Made possible with support from The Road Theatre Company; Solari Enterprises, Inc., and the North Hollywood Senior Arts Colony.
Made possible with funding from The Eisner Foundation.
Vermont Family Apartments and North Hollywood Senior Arts Colony are Meta Housing Corporation Communities.
