Thanks to these wonderful folks:



Our great volunteers, Abe’s Kosher Deli, Abington High School students, Atlantic Fish & Fabulous Foods, Bayada Nurses, Claws ’n Paws Animal Park, Conti Environmental, Fast Signs, Guy Cali Associates, Happenings Magazine, Hazel’s Hut, Kaiser Fine Photography, Lahey Family Fun Park, Met Group, Inc., Money Mailer, North Penn Savings & Loan, Party Zone, PAX-TV, Penn Security Bank & Trust, Pizza Hut in Clarks Summit, Joseph Raven Entertainment, The Ryah House, Bill Shebaugh Photography, The Sojourner, Toe-Knee Productions, Triple A Security Services, The Tudor Bookstore, WWDL-FM and WICK-AM. (whew!)

Click here for a brief Slide Show (each photo is about 10k, so this might take a few moments).  

Now we have to stop and offer a sincere thank you to George Nichols for taking a leap of faith in sponsoring such a brand-new, untried event. He donated the use of their 
entire conference area, indoor pool room and a few guest rooms, set up a concession stand with free food for the volunteers and worked closely with us to help make the event flow smoothly. Kudos to his talented staff for taking extra time and care with our special day! 

The idea for the event was simple - we wanted to create a classy event where kids could have a blast enjoying fun activities (and walk away with oodles of prizes and goodies) in a family-friendly atmosphere. And we never could have done it without the help of our Sponsors. 

The entry fee? Just $3 at the door for kids 3-12, with adults and wee ones free of charge. So many people thought the price was too cheap and stuffed our donations box with their leftover bills and change. We had to empty it out three times! Thank you, thank you!

Inside, every vendor surprised the children with a different game or activity, and there were tons of prizes for all. 

The Foundation sponsored Caricatures by Gary Cangemi, PennStar Bank brought their mascot and had a great Ring-Toss game, Baby Face Arts Studio donated face-painting (and the lines almost "stopped up" the doorway!), Jos. Notarianni & Co. donated apples and oranges, Today's Child Magazine hosted a duck pond where kids could win a Beanie Baby donated by Giggles, Community Medical Center hosted a Coloring Table, and Michael's in Wilkes-Barre sent in Cindy the Super Craft Leader to show the kids how to make fabulous, squishy foam creations. 

McDonalds® of Greater Scranton gave a free Happy Meal to the first 250 children who paid admission while WVIA Public Television and Radio brought Clifford The Big Red Dog to host story time throughout the day, did great crafts and activities and gave every single child a beautiful brand-new book of their very own. Our friend Patti Yesu helped us coordinate a terrific Chinese Auction just bursting with big baskets of toys and goodies, bedecked and beribboned for maximum appeal. Both kids and adults milled around the Auction for hours, trying to decide where to deposit their tickets. 

As attendees munched their way through mounds of cotton candy and popcorn, the entertainers cut loose on stage! Families filled the pool room with applause as they watched Ronald McDonald's Magic Show (courtesy of McDonald's of Greater Scranton), the Magic of Bill Dickson (sponsored by Century 21 - Sherlock Homes) and the ventriloquism of Ed Klush (and Stanley). 

We had a putting green from Golf Park Plus in Hamlin, Carpet Bowling courtesy of Idle Hour Bowling Lanes, a dee-jay'd Cookie Walk, a Musical Petting Zoo courtesy of Robert M. Sides Family Music Centers, coloring activities from State Farm (Lasko Insurance Agency, Inc.) Insurance, and fingerprinting sponsored by First National Community Bank in Dunmore and The First National Bank of Palmerton. The Ronald McDonald House offered Tic-Tac-Throw, The Kitchnefsky Foundation's Potty Toss had all the kids in giggles and The Children's Anthracite Historical Discovery Center of Carbondale showed up to promote plans for the upcoming facility!

John Lasko (of State Farm Insurance) drew the winning names in the Chinese Auction and was also kind enough to let us store the prizes at his office while they waited for the winners to pick them up. Thanks to John and his staff for helping out!

The Mall at Steamtown had so much fun with their Spin Art Booth (and were so impressed with the overall caliber of the event) that they offered to host the entire event in 2003! Since we had outgrown The Inn at Nichols Village in just one day, we were thrilled to take the Mall up on their offer. 

When all was said and done, we counted over 1400 people "through the door" - mostly young families. Once again, we extend our most heartfelt thanks to all who participated!