More than 200 St. Thomas youth got into the holiday spirit on Wednesday, when the Tourism Department, in collaboration with the Florida-Caribbean Cruise Association (FCCA) and Disney Cruise Line, served up lunch, presents and entertainment at Marriott Frenchman’s Reef for their benefit.
Children squealed with delight as they were greeted by real-life Disney characters, and they happily scooped up balloon-animal creatures to take home, while their teachers tried to maintain a sense of order befitting the lushly appointed hotel. The joyful children could not help but romp around the ballroom with glee.
“Every year we look forward to this event which enlivens the holidays for so many local children,” Commissioner of Tourism Beverly Nicholson-Doty said. “We are so grateful to the Florida-Caribbean Cruise Association and Disney Cruise Line for continuing to support this important event year after year. “ Nicholson-Doty offered special thanks to Frenchman’s Reef for their major sponsorship this year.
When the buses arrived to return teachers and students to school, the children gathered up their many gifts, including books, toys and balloon friends, and happily anticipated returning home.
The Disney Holiday Gift Project is an annual affair begun in 2000. As part of the program, FCCA Cruise Lines will be providing gifts to more than 6,000 under-privileged children in 28 different destinations throughout the region, a release from Tourism stated.
The young participants were chosen from the Department of Special Education and various Department of Human Services’ programs.
