Volunteers Delivering the Gift of Human Kindness Holiday Express Yearbook Season 2008 And the Band Played On! There’s nothing quite like the of the New Jersey National feeling of turning off the “Music speaks what Guard, who are deployed to switch and giving yourself Iraq. The day came complete over to the power of music – cannot be expressed, with uniformed Guard soldiers it stirs our emotions, triggers soothes the mind who provided safety on this our memories and even most poignant day. gives way to some wild and gives it rest, The event was hosted by dance moves. For whatever Big Joe Henry of 101.5 FM. unexplainable reasons, heals the heart and In attendance was New music is a primitive memory Jersey Governor Jon we all have and can draw makes it whole, Corzine who visited with upon when we hear it. flows from heaven the families, including Erin But music’s magic doesn’t DeLuca-Knighton and her stop there – for some it’s a to the soul.” life-size foam board cutout form of therapy and it can Anonymous of her husband, Dane. Erin be said that is what Holiday takes it to all the family Express delivers – the At a first-time event held in Asbury activities – like the children’s healing power of music. For Park’s Convention Hall, Holiday Express volleyball games and cross- the 16th consecutive year, had the honor of serving and enter- country meets. They take Tim McLoone, along with taining more than 700 family members photos of the pretend daddy 1,300 merry volunteers, at each activity, then post it delivered the gift of human on MySpace so their actual kindness to those in need “Sergeant Daddy” in Iraq during this past November can see what they’re up to. and December. Continued on Page 4 Update/Don Pignataro Executive Director Between November 24 and December 24, we shared the gift of music and human kindness 53 different times. More than 1,300 volunteers contributed their time and talents to build, manage and execute what we call our “event schedule.” While it sounds simple, it is not. A list of the types of places we visit on our “event schedule” is included with the season numbers on page 15. The gift bag packing crew included 35 youth organizations, nine corporate groups and hundreds of individuals who volunteered more than 1,600 hours – in the sometimes hot, and sometimes cold warehouse – to produce more than 15,000 gift bags. The truck loading and unloading A NOTE crew was in and out daily before the morning elves arrived. The event f r o m t h e P r e s i d e n t crews averaged 25 volunteers including musicians, singers, dancers, servers, hand holders, face painters, costume characters and other elf responsibilities. They logged more than 4,900 hours, the bus and trucks To All Of Our Supporters traveled over 2,000 miles. Our volunteers get a helper’s high, they feel good about what they are doing, they have a positive impact on those we see and they truly make a difference. They may not intentionally seek I find it increasingly difficult to write these annual – but they certainly do get – an emotional return on investment (sorry for the financial reference but it is the popular topic these days). messages. The problem is that, although I try to avoid As this edition goes to print, the economy and the financial stability repeating myself when speaking of Holiday Express, of charitable organizations is in the forefront of every non-profit correspondence and publication. While many are negative and suggest a doom and gloom future, our belief is to stay true to our cause and it’s impossible not to verbalize the sheer wonderment I continue being a trustworthy, efficient and effective steward of our donors’ support. Our staff and Board of Trustees are committed to financial feel at what we do each year... and how incredible stewardship and are committed to working diligently navigating a shifting landscape. The “event schedule” needs us. As a wise man once said, it is that so many of you feel compelled to join in “worrying is not thinking and complaining is not action.” Thank you for your continued support, we are very grateful so many the merriment. caring individuals believe in the Holiday Express mission. It is the mission of Holiday Express to deliver music, food, Beyond that “merriment,” however, is an incredible gifts, financial support and friendship to those with the greatest need for the gift of human kindness during the amount of physical labor that takes place for months holiday season and throughout the year. Newsletter Committee in our warehouse, all to ensure that the Holiday Jill Weiss – Editor/Graphic Design Don Pignataro – Contributing Editor Photos by Scott Longfield, Russ Pangborn and HolEx friends Express trucks are packed with all the necessary Holiday Express is a volunteer, non-profit, non-sectarian, registered 501(c)(3) organization. supplies and “goodies” to take care of our guests. It Board of Trustees Timothy McLoone, President takes an intricate network of volunteers to create Amy Broza, First Vice President Jim Celestino, Second Vice President Jeff Fraller, Treasurer those special Holiday Express moments we get to Helen Doyle, Corresponding Secretary Jane Denny, Recording Secretary experience each year. We’ve done this 625 times so far Board Members Jim Barlow, Terel Cooperhouse, Peter DeMarco, Donna Edington, Big Joe Henry, Eileen Higgins, Paul Huegel, David Jurman, and entertained hundreds of thousands of people Bill Ralph, Maureen Staub Donald Pignataro, Executive Director along the way, and I can’t think of Amy Robinson DeHays, Director of Operations Christine Mosher, Director of Development Christina Liccardi, Office Manager any possible reason we should Contact Information 968 Shrewsbury Ave., Tinton Falls, NJ 07724 Tel: (732) 544-8010 Fax: (732) 544-8020 stop now. email: [email protected] http://www.holidayexpress.org Giving Partner Program 2008 One of the hallmarks of Holiday Express is its ever-expanding “Giving Partner Program.” GIVING PARTNERS This program matches Holiday Express donors with specific charitable organizations so Number of organizations the needs of these charities can best be served. The Giving Partner Program is designed with wish lists: 55 to provide a charity with items it needs, but is often unable to acquire. By requesting that each charity provide a “wish list,” Holiday Express is able to find an appropriate Number of organizations with donor or donors to fulfill the wish list. This matching of donors with charities forges a Giving Partners: 31 relationship between the charitable organizations and the benefactors that support New Giving Partners: 6 them, making them true “partners” in the program. Gifts Given Peg Ford, our Giving Partner Coordinator, works her magic year after year by matching Solar Birdbath not only businesses, but also individuals and families with each charity’s wish list. If you Commercial Pots and Pans would like to become involved with Holiday Express as a Giving Partner, please email Flat Screen TV Holiday Express at [email protected] or call (732) 544-8010. Thank you. Winter Coats Elasto-Gel Therapy Wraps Melissa Marshall Creates A Giving Partner Luncheon Wheelchair Swing During September of 2008, for me, and made my event Super Sensitive Switch I attended the first annual idea much more gratifying. It Tactile Board Holiday Express Clambake became very personal by Vibrotube as guests of Silver Sponsor actually meeting the people Gem Sphere Reward Val and Tom DeFelice of Circle that we would be helping. Flat Screen Wall Mountable TV BMW. Prior to the evening, Mega 4 in a Row Game On December 14, 2008, I read about the event and Small Textured Wall seventy-five women attended looked at the Holiday Express Reading Pen II a luncheon at The Mill in website. At the Clambake, I was FH Farmhouse Portable Greenhouse Kit Spring Lake Heights. Most overwhelmed by the variety of Wii Game Systems people had heard of Holiday Express, but talent, all donating their time, and the Relationship Series Set weren’t sure what it was. I had a poster support for people to come together to Adaptive Pinball Machine on display which explained the Holiday provide funding for so many organizations Movie Projector and Screen Express mission, and Don Pignataro was in need of holiday cheer. Bunn 2 Pot Coffee Maker, Commercial on hand to talk about the organization. Before the night was over, I had introduced I feel that this gathering brought an Home Depot Gift Card myself to Don Pignataro and requested to awareness of Holiday Express and the (2) Canon 1.07 mp DVD Camcorders be involved. Fundraising has always been Giving Partner Program to all of us. Dance, Dance Revolution Game and Pad a passion of mine, and in the past few Borders Gift Cards, $25 increments Each ticket sale provided funds to purchase years I have hosted a number of events Denny’s from Heaven Gift Cards, new pots and pans, and other kitchen for The Garden Academy, a school for $25 increments items, for Spring House. Each guest also autistic children. The generosity of those MacBook 13" 2.4 Ghz Intel Core 2 Duo brought a new unwrapped gift for a boy who attend is inspiring, and I have met Piano or girl up to age four (and those who could wonderful people along the way: printers, (7) Casio 7.2 mp Digital Cameras not attend also sent donations). We were restaurant staff, boutique owners, and so Dell Computer and Monitor able to fill an entire sleigh! Sher took the many more.