IFMA NYC 2010 holiday party and charity toy drive a success

By Michael Moskowitz, IFMAThe 2010 IFMA NYC Holiday Party was a rousing success, with more than 90 professional and associate members in attendance and taking part in the festivities. The venue (Club Providence) and ambience worked nicely for the occasion, as a good time was had by all. Our holiday toy drive, benefitting the children whose families receive assistance from the Fraternite Notre Dame Soup Kitchen in East Harlem (http://www.fraternitenotredame.org) was the focus of the evening's charitable component. The IFMA Cares committee received great support in promoting that all attendees bring unwrapped toys for distribution. IFMA NYC members delivered big time! More than 70 toys were brought to the event. Board games of all types, soccer balls, basketballs and footballs were contributed. Model cars and airplanes, as well as almost a dozen dolls of all sizes and shapes, were schlepped to the event by our members. Someone even brought a very large rocking horse, certainly the envy of any parent who has young children. And that was only part of the story. Attendees who either didn't know about the Toy Drive or who didn't have the opportunity to pick up a toy, contributed "on the spot," by donating almost $200 through credit card donations. And there is more good news about the generosity and consideration of IFMA NYC members. Members also contributed money during their event registration process and those collections totaled more than $400. The committee wishes to express our most sincere appreciation to IFMA NYC members for making the 2010 holiday toy drive the best in recent memory. Committee members Juan Hernandez and Scott Blum accompanied chairperson Mike Moskowitz, and delivered the toys and check ($605), to the storefront soup kitchen on First Ave., between 117th and 118th Sts., on December 17. Their experience was extraordinary. The storefront had a line of people (mostly mothers and their children), stretching to and around the corner, more than half an avenue's length east. Families waited patiently in the cold to receive the holiday gifts and treats. The storefront itself was stacked with almost a thousand brightly wrapped presents. The expressions of excitement and anticipation on the children's faces as they entered the store front, will be long remembered as will the looks of gratitude on the faces of their parents. It was an enlivening and gratifying experience to be part of. Sister Mary (who runs the facility) remarked that many if not most of these children would not have much of any holiday gifts, were it not for the contributions received, which were then wrapped for distribution. Thanks again, to all who gave. Michael Moskowitz is chairperson for IFMA Cares