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PEER LEADERS
help host a Christmas Party for 1600—
a day at the Meadowlands in support of
the work of the NJ Apartment Association
[photos by Richard Shami '02]

On Monday December 4, the 45 members of the Peer Leadership Program of Seton Hall Prep joined forces with the New Jersey Apartment Association to help in hosting over 1600 disadvantaged and disabled children at the association's annual Christmas Party at the Meadowlands. The Prep students served as escorts for the children, face painters, table servers and, the most popular task of all, cartoon characters like Cookie Monster, Sylvester, Snoopy, Scooby Doo and Frosty the Snowman. The children,  aged three to twelve, were from Elizabeth, Newark, Jersey City and Irvington. The students from Seton Hall, involved in their fourth year with this activity, were joined by others from Immaculate Heart Academy [Montclair] and Summit High School [Mr. Mike Jordan, formerly of SHP]

In preparation for their day with the small-fry, they had been appraised of the humbling and generous nature of what they were about to take part in. When they returned to school at the end of the day, their remarks confirmed what they had been told. Student Council President Peter Couto remarked, "They were right, it was humbling, but it was still more fun than I ever expected it to be. One little girl, when I asked her what her favorite part of the day was, smiled and said, 'Everything.!'"

TJ Esposito backed him up, "I felt good for making the lives of these kids more enjoyable. It made me more grateful for everything I've been given." Chris Doll added, "One kid told me Santa didn't exist when I told him he was there. He said, 'because I'm always good but I never get anything!' I promised him he would get something, because I knew they had toys for all the kids."

Frank DeLuccia confirmed that the day left the 18-year olds with a virtual glow for having made a contribution to someone else's life, saying, "As I was walking around dressed as Scooby Doo, kids would run up and just hug me! So many of their teachers all went out of their way to come up and thank us for making the kids happy for the day." The Cookie Monster, Mike McAndrew echoed that he, too, was awed " to know that the little kids looked up to you, depended on and trusted you just because you were bigger than they."

Peer Leaders
  • 1. Peter Rabbit ,a little out of season, got hug from a six year-old. [Jamie Ramilo]
  • 2,3. Peer Leaders greeted the guests as they arrived at the Meadowlands, and escorted them up the escalators to the main room.
  • 4. Sylvester the Cat, who made his reputation with Bugs Bunny in the fifties,  proved to be a surprise favorite among the 3rd Millennium small fry. [Mike Heitman /Alexander Millet]
  • 5. Perrennial favorite Rudolph the Red Nose Reindeer [Chris Doll]
  • 6. Frosty The Snowmann shared some refreshments [Chris Emma, Laurence Tai, Joe Kelly]
  • 7. Snoopy got in on a group hug [Nelson Peters]
  • 8. The Cookie Monster  [Mike McAndrew] and his escorts, Dave Klimowicz and Jeff Janiszewski.

 

Version 2000—

My Christmas Party as a Superstar

  • by Brad Galorenzo, '01, photographs by Andrew Walton '01

I strolled out of the dressing room, and to my surprise, hundreds and hundreds of kids already in the lobby shrieked with delight at the sight of me. In a second, the mob of kids bolted my way and engulfed me. Some hugged, some tickled, some shouted my name. I could not believe how many people were so happy to see me. I felt like a superstar.

Now, you might be saying to yourself, "Who is this kid? He must be really popular."

Actually, it was just me, but I was dressed up as Elmo.

On the morning of December 4th, The Seton Hall Prep Peer Leaders traveled to the Meadowlands to help out at a party for less fortunate inner-city children. Arranged by the New Jersey Apartment Association, the party took place in the clubhouse at the racetrack. DJ's had set up their sound systems and speakers, as well as scores of tables for the large crowd that was expected.

I had actually only reluctantly accepted the job of dressing up as Elmo. It entailed wearing a giant mask that had he seeing through a blurry tunnel, in addition to a clumsy, heavy, furry red body suit. It turned into a job I'll never forget.

  • Mark Niziol and Geordan Murphy

After being swarmed by the ecstatic children, they led me onto the dance floor. I helped them do the Macarena and the Chicken Dance. I had once sworn I would never again participate in the Macarena or the Chicken Dance. I lost track of time; sweat slowly began to pour down my back, but I still walked around, surprising little children at their tables. To see each kid's face light up when they found out that Elmo really was ticklish was exhilarating. I knew they actually weren't smiling at me, the Seton Hall Prep senior, but it still felt amazing knowing that I was helping them have a good time at the party. After a couple of hours hugging and tickling and dancing, things finally quieted down enough for me to disappear from the floor to shed my costume. It was completely soaked in sweat. I left with the rest of the Peer Leaders after the hundreds of children filed had returned to their buses with their toys. I felt as though I had really made a difference.

I have done many other service projects throughout my career at the Prep, but I think this one was the most exciting and gratifying. Knowing that I had helped less fortunate kids have a wonderful Christmas time was rewarding and heartwarming. I wish others could share my experience and could have seen the thrilled reactions on the kids' faces.

Being Elmo for just a couple of hours made me look forward to volunteering more of my time in the future to work with children.

  • Peter Bremberg and Joe Martinez










     

 

  • Murphy and Elmo [the author]