HOLIDAY TOY DRIVE BY HEALTHFIRST, DIAZ, GIBSON
New York’s largest not-for-profi t health insurer Healthfi rst, along with Councilman Ruben
Diaz, Sr., Councilwoman Vanessa Gibson, the Claremont Neighborhood Center and William
Hodson Senior Center, hosted a holiday toy drive on Friday, December 20. The holiday event,
which included arts and crafts, face painting and a special visit by Santa, saw 1,000 toys be
distributed to neighborhood children and families.
Councilman Ruben Diaz, Sr. with Santa Claus, members of the Claremont Neighborhood Center,
local police offi cers and children in attendance who received Christmas gifts.
Photo courtesy of Elise Titan
Children in attendance got their faces painted to look festive for the Christmas holiday toy
drive. Photo courtesy of Elise Titan
Councilwoman Vanessa Gibson (c) with members of the Claremont Neighborhood Center,
Healthfi rst and local children in attendance who received Christmas gifts.
Photo courtesy of Elise Titan
BRONX TIMES R 24 EPORTER, JANUARY 3-9, 2020 BTR
TEDDY CARS SUPPORTS MUSIC PROGRAMS
On Thursday, December 5, Teddy Cars presented $20,000 to ten Bronx school to benefi t
their music education programs. Teddy Cars was joined by thisistheBronX and special guest
speaker Bobby Sanabria. Music performances were also performed by Baychester Academy
and Mosholu Montefi ore Community Center students. The announcement, which took place
at Mosholu Montefi ore Community Center, granted funds to the music education programs
at P.S. 55, P.S. 72, P.S. 76, Baychester Academy, Bronx Career and College Prep and Renaissance
Youth Center, Bronx House, Mindbuilders Creative Arts Center, Mosholu Montefi ore
Community Center and WHEDco’s after-school program at P.S./M.S. 218.
Baychester Academy students performed with violins at the event.
Photo courtesy of WOW Creative Group
(l-r) Dennis Washington from P.S. 72, Kendra Gardner from Baychester Academy, Gary Axelbank
from thisistheBronX, Julio Batista from Teddy Cars, Waldo Chavez from Mindbuilders
Creative Arts Center and Holley Bartlett-La Sala from Bronx House.
Photo courtesy of WOW Creative Group
SCOUTS HOLD FOOD DRIVE OUTSIDE BIG DEAL
On Saturday, December 14, the Cub Scouts Pack 162 gathered outside of Big Deal Supermarket
on Morris Park Avenue to collect non-perishable goods for their food drive. Assemblywoman
Nathalia Fernandez also helped by providing donations of her own to the
cub scouts.
Fernandez and 49th Precinct Community Council president Joe Thompson join Cub Scouts
Pack 162 for the food drive. Photo courtesy of Assemblywoman Nathalia Fernandez’ offi ce