The Cheer Me Up Foundation’s Christmas Extravaganza can be summed up in three words: Health, love, and happiness. On Monday, December 21, in the midst of the 2015 holiday season, elated families congregated at Nanina’s in the Park in Belleville to be part of a very special night, and to contribute both physically and in spirit to one of the greatest organizations in the area.
The Cheer Me Up Foundation is a non-profit organization created to financially aid ill and underprivileged children below the age of 18. The foundation was born 22 years ago when Joe Maurillo, the President of the organization, was visiting his daughter Gianna in the hospital that holiday season. He witnessed the heartbreaking truth that not every child has a family to spend the holidays with, or to share gifts with to celebrate the season.
That same year, Maurillo along with his co-workers and friends dressed in Christmas costumes, bought gifts, and provided the lonely children of the Newark Children’s Hospital with one of the most spectacular holidays they had ever experienced; and in doing so, brought wonder to a number of kids who may have otherwise thought the joy of the holiday season was far beyond their grasp.
The Cheer Me Up Foundation has grown and flourished in the years since its incarnation, bringing happiness to children who constantly battle fierce medical and financial destitution. The organization is run by committed volunteers who share the same caring drive that Maurillo himself does.
This year’s Christmas Extravaganza was an exciting celebration for all who attended. With an estimated over 400 individuals at Nanina’s in the Park Monday night, the holiday party provided a safe, loving, and fun atmosphere for the children and their parents. Families dressed up nicely and relished a fancy and delicious buffet-style dinner. Children scattered along the dance floor, twirling and swaying about to the DJ’s energetic choices, while parents either joined in or happily looked on from their seats.
Numerous characters like Elsa, Olaf, SpongeBob, and Mario and Luigi danced and took pictures with the mesmerized kids who dominated the dance floor. Boys and girls got their faces painted and scarfed down tons of candy, popcorn, and homemade cookies that were offered alongside pretzels, cotton candy, nachos, and other goodies. Mr. and Mrs. Claus even took their sleigh out a few days early to visit all the good boys and girls who came to the party. The couple took pictures with, and gave remarkable gifts to, all the wonderful children.
The Cheer Me Up Foundation succeeds on many fronts. It aids children in areas where others failed them; it returns happiness to those who have lost it; it strengthens children not just physically, but mentally as well; and the list goes on. But specifically, on the night of December 21, the Cheer Me Up Foundation brought together groups of families who may not share much in common, other than their struggles and their caring nature. And just as it does each and every other day, the foundation brought health, love, and happiness to hundreds of people who, on this night, came together as a family.
If you’d like to contribute to the Cheer Me Up Foundation and help spread some holiday cheer, you can visit their website and Donate Now.
All Photos: © Patrick Lombardi / Best of NJ