The rooftop at the Florida Aquarium in Tampa, Fla., transformed into a holiday wonderland for 150 children this past Friday at the 12th Annual Christmas Celebration.
Hosted by the Yob Family Foundation, the organization has been coordinating the gift-giving event for underserved children in the Tampa Bay community for the past 12 years.
The event was started when the foundation saw a much-needed gap that needed to be filled during the holiday season for underserved and low-income children and families. “There were kids that were being left behind and not getting to participate in the holidays,” says Lisa Pizarro-Yob, the director of Philanthropy at Yob. “And we decided to not only give them an opportunity but give them an educational opportunity.”
The Yob sponsored two organizations: A Kid’s Place, a residential foster home, and RCMA, Florida (Redlands Christian Migrant Association).
The kids were treated to a tour of the museum, followed by a lunch of chicken tenders, fries, cookies, and brownies, and festive activities that included a snow globe and snowman station and a photobooth. Three of the children from A Kid’s Place were given scholarships of $1,250 each.
Event coordinator Stephanie Holdsworth says the biggest reward is the kids. ” Seeing the kids’ smiles and the excitement and the joy that it brings them, it’s really rewarding,” she says.
But the highlight was the gift exchange by Santa Claus and his honorary special elf helpers, District 5 Councilwoman Naya Young and former Washington Commanders player Shane Simpson.
The former NFL player, turned sports agent, says he loves kids and enjoys giving back even more. “I’m a God-fearing man, so I know giving back is huge,” says Simpson. “It gives you some type of purpose, and just to see the kids light up and the smiles on their faces, it makes everything else worth it.”
Young shares Simpson’s sentiment, adding, “I love children, so just seeing the kids just having a fun time, without a care in the world, I think that truly embodies what the spirit of Christmas is.”
Buffalo Bills wide receiver Deon Cain also stopped by. He and Simpson signed autographs and offered words of wisdom to the kids. Cain, who is also a father, humbly expressed his gratitude not only to be in a position to give his son a great Christmas but other children as well.
“It’s always good to give back,” says Cain. “It’s nothing but love. God is real. I just want to spread the love and holiday spirit always.”
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers were among the community partners who also contributed to the gift-giving.
“Each year it’s grown and grown, which could be positive and also negative because it reflects the need in our community,” says Pizarro-Yob. “So it’s really important to us that a lot of people can see this and feel like they can do something and step up as well.
