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BOROUGH PRESIDENT HOSTS SPECTACULAR HOLIDAY CELEBRATION FOR 3000 BROOKLYN CHILDREN

Photograph by Laura Geiser
In photo 1 (from left to right): Isaiah Gordon as Mr. Tree, Lemont Haskins as Master of Ceremonies and Magician Extraordinaire, and Brooklyn Borough President Markowitz spread holiday cheer to 3,000 Brooklyn children during the Best of Brooklyn Holiday Celebration 2004.

Acrobats, dancers, the Hula Hoop Girl, & new toys and books for all the kids!

On Saturday, December 18, Brooklyn Borough President Marty Markowitz helped 3000 Brooklyn children who live in low-income housing, public housing or shelters get into the Christmas spirit when he hosts the Best of Brooklyn Holiday Celebration 2004 at the Christian Cultural Center in East New York, Brooklyn.

“So many people, organizations and corporations love you in Brooklyn and are confident you will grow up to meet great success,” Markowitz told the crowd of 3000 Brooklyn kids. “Remember that each one of you is very special and that that you can make a difference in your neighborhood, in Brooklyn and the world. Enjoy your Christmas present, read the book you select and other stories, love your parents, attend Church and don’t forget that nothing is more important than your education. I know you will continue to make Brooklyn proud! I wish you and your families Merry Christmas, Happy Kwanzaa and a New Year filled with love, happiness and peace.”

This year’s live, family-style show “A Brooklyn Christmas Carol” had something for everyone, including performances by Anna Jack, the “Hula Hoop Girl” & company including her poodles; renowned magician Lemont Haskins; Lazer, the creative contortionist & the Positive Brothers acrobatics troupe; The Nutcracker, Brooklyn-style, as performed by Brooklyn Music School; internationally acclaimed circus performers Rob & Christina; The Nubian Gents & Feminine Fire dance companies, and the MS 51 Show Choir.

Following performance, every child selected one new book and one new toy provided by the event’s dozens of sponsors. The kids will have plenty of gifts to choose from, including classic games, a wide range of sporting equipment, and of course the hottest new toys, such as Shrek Monopoly & Operation, Bratz, Grover & Elmo, Rescue Heroes, Barbies, Bob the Builder, Wiggles and cuddly dolls from a new Brooklyn toy company called Real Kidz that specializes in dolls of mixed ethnic heritage.

Fifty-six Brooklyn New York City Housing Authority tenant presidents chose children from their complexes to attend the shows. Dozens of other social-service organizations also sent children, including Women in Need, a program for families in shelters.

Best of Brooklyn is a not-for-profit charity with the mission to make life better for all Brooklynites by supporting culture, social services, health and education initiatives, tourism and most importantly, our youth.

This event was underwritten by generous contributions from:

The Jacobson family & the Lady Linda Cake Company.

Astoria Federal Savings Bank, Bay Ridge Automotive Management, Best Buy, Brooklyn Navy Yard Development Corporation, Citibank, Con Edison, Entemann's, Fulton Mall Improvement Association, Inc, GHI, Grocery Haulers, Health First, Health Plus, HIP Health, Law & Order, Plan of New York, JP Morgan Chase, Macy’s, MetroPlus, PFIZER, Sears, Snapple, Stop & Shop, Subway Sandwiches, Target Corporation, Toys R Us, United Federation of Teachers Local 2, Washington Mutual and Western Union.

American Media Concepts, Inc, Brooklyn Cyclones, Brooklyn Federal Savings Bank, Cookies Department Store, Costco, Cumberland Packing, El Caribe Caterers, Flatbush Avenue BID, Hyperion Disney, Jetro Cash & Carry, Key Food Stores, Payomatic, Papa John’s Pizza, Petroleum Tank Cleaners, Inc., and Scholastic Books.