On Saturday, December 13, Brooklyn Borough President Marty Markowitz and more than 150 volunteers spread holiday cheer to 3,000 children, their parents and guardians, at the Best of Brooklyn 2008 Holiday Celebration, a festive day of performances, refreshments and holiday gifts. More than five dozen buses were chartered to bring many of the children to the Christian Cultural Center from low-income housing and shelters throughout Brooklyn.

The live stage show included An Enchanted Christmas with the “Snow Queen” as emcee; Kim the Bubble Man; Anna Jack (guest of “Late Night with David Letterman”) with oodles of poodles and hula hoops; Yogi Laser the Contortionist; the Positive Brothers street performers; the Brooklyn Ballet; and, fresh off their appearance in the Macy’s Thanksgiving Parade, the Soul Tigers Marching Band direct from East New York.

Following the program, each child selected a new toy and new book from the gift rooms. The toys and books were generously contributed by great corporate citizens and toy drives across the borough.