(Elizabeth) – Helping to make the holidays a little brighter, Assemblywoman Annette Quijano (D-Union) held her 9th Annual Three Kings Day Celebration on Friday for the children in the Child/Adolescent Behavioral Health Programs at Trinitas Regional Medical Center and the St. Clare’s Home for Children.
Three Kings Day marks the end of the Christmas holiday season and is celebrated throughout Latin America and Spain with festivities, music, dancing and gift-giving.
“Each year, this heartwarming event enriches the lives of these children,” said Quijano. “Many of them live at the hospital and don’t have the opportunity to celebrate the holidays at home. I’m thankful that, with the help of our generous sponsors, we were able to bring a little holiday joy to these children.”
More than 300 children received gifts as part of the celebration. The children, ages 3 to 18, are patients in the adolescent residential program, the inpatient pediatric behavioral health program and the outpatient pediatric behavioral health program at Trinitas.
Donations were also made to St. Clare’s Home for Children, where Assemblywoman
Quijano was able to fulfill the “wish list” for the three infants at the home with the help of individual sponsors. Located in Elizabeth, St. Clare’s provides children with specialized medical needs with medical, nutritional, developmental and social support at a critical period in their primary stages of life.
“I really want to thank the sponsors, donors and everyone who helped make our Three Kings Day event a success. Without their generosity, this would not have been possible. They helped put smiles on the faces of children who are dealing with so much adversity, and I cannot thank them enough for that.”
In addition to the gifts given to the children at Trinitas, Quijano and sponsors also provided a ping pong table, karaoke machine, musical instruments, exercise equipment, and other items for use in their therapy and playrooms. A list of the sponsors who contributed to the January 4 event is listed below. Quijano also acknowledged the individuals who sponsored the group of adolescents who were at the event and the community groups and members who brought toys and clothing donations the day of the event.
Sponsors
New Jersey Firefighters Mutual Benevolent Association
New Jersey Firefighters Mutual Benevolent Association – Local 9
Unity SME
Historic Midtown Elizabeth Special Improvement District and Janice DeAvila
New Jersey State Troopers Fraternal Association
Hispanic Law Enforcement Association of Union County President Louis Demondo
Hispanic Law Enforcement Association of Union County
IKEA
Councilman Manny Grova, Jr.
Freeholder Sergio Granados
Elizabeth Board of Education President Maria Carvalho
Elizabeth Board of Education Member Stephanie Goncalves
Elizabeth Board of Education Member Diane Barbosa
Groundworks Elizabeth