Our Chapter focuses on one large Community Service Event each year – KIDS’ DAY.  We put our heart and soul into this event to make it awesome for the children who are the future to our community and possible our organization.  We select one financially challenged school each year, and provide an educational seminar then festival for the children, administration and the families.

We selected a school in San Jose that we had previously honored when we started this event 6 years ago.  This school is very close to the heart of Downtown San Jose, and in November, a very serious five-alarm fire in their newest constructed building was started by arsenic. It was devastating to the community that surrounds the school as well as the children. As a big portion of the campus was chain linked fence and demolition started, school budgets began seeing more cuts in the school district.  Since, we have changed the format of the KIDS’ DAY from the time we honor this school years back, the Board of Directors decided that it would be great to revisit Gardner Academy and give them the End of the Year Festival.  We waived the educational seminar this year, because the police and fire department has been to the school several times this year with presentations on fire danger and arresting trouble people like arsenics.  The Event Chairperson: Patrick Duffek, Headliner Productions; Greg Casella, CPCE, Catered Too -  Immediate Past President; and Amy Blach, CBA, AMB Designs - Secretary and Membership Director.

NACE Kids’ Day was amazing this year… the May weather in California was perfect for an outside event.  All morning, while setting up, the children and administration were watching and waiting for the half-day bell to ring with anticipation.  The administration would ask, time and time again, “you’re doing all this for free – for the children and their families”.  And when we said Yes it is All FREE- they were in amazement. 

We raise money for this event through a Dine-Around Fundraiser in June each year.  Here we have a silent auction at the hors d’oeuvres, sell wine with dinner, a raffle at dessert and last year we had a live auction. This event raised $9,100 dollars last year and $3,000 was given to this event to help offset the only expense of Lime Green T-shirts for the children.

This year our contact Maureen Hansen, thought is would be good to still have the San Jose Police Department there for finger printing, as a small educational portion to the event.  So, permission slip were sent home and signed, and the Police Department came with their equipment /computers. Members of the Police Department were available to talk with parents about the importance of having fingerprints on file as well as process the Fingerprints, Photographs and DNA screening.  There was a line all day, and parents were appreciative to have this opportunity so available.

At 12:30 the bell sounded and about 500 kids plus teachers and administration came out to the playground all in a sea of lime green t-shirts.  It was a site!  Parents, grandparents, brothers and sisters also joined the fun day.  It as fantastic to have the generous support of 6 NACE members (Renee Monroe, Linen Express; Sharon Sacks, Bridal Extravaganza; Rich Amooi, Hey Mr. DJ; Jim and Carmella Graham, Realtor; Decathlon Club, and Naomi Salowe, Today’s Bride) sponsors the t-shirts with an additional $250.00 each.  The kids thought they were great and even wanted more for their family members.

It was wonderful to have the primary caterers generously supply the carnival food booths to make our buffet selection plentiful and delicious.  Fun festival food like Kettle Korn, provided by Greg Casella of Hip Pop and Cotton Candy by Tony White, Cypress Hotel, and Sno-Kones by Danny Thomas Party Rentals were a great addition this year to Grandma’s Kitchen and ice cream delights, from Catered Too!, Savory and Sweet, Café Primavera, and Wilson’s Bakery.  Hot spaghetti and salad from Events of Excellence, fresh fruit, Pat Smith Extravaganza Catering, hot dogs, D'n'L Catering and nachos, Elegant Events Catering rounded out the buffets under the festively decorate canopies.  Each caterer provided food for 500 people with a retail value well over $12,625.

The ambiance was set with lots of color provided by Linen Express’ red, yellow, lime green and blue linens coordinating with the jumbo balloon bouquets all around provided by AMB Designs.  With the season being busy with graduations and the economy still not being at it best we asked several rental companies to contribute verse a huge donation from one. So, Brannon’s Party Rentals generously donated the tables and chairs; and Stuart Party Rentals provided the canopies and Umbrellas. 

The entertainment to create the “Festival” feel was underwritten by Plan-it Interactive and Headliner Productions.  The festive red and white stripe tents added such a true carnival flare with five traditional games to match. The kids lined up all day to play, while others crawled through Sports Challenge Obstacle Course, climbed on Jurassic Adventure and slid down the 30’ slide. The music entertainment was by Jordan River Entertainment. And Headliner Productions pulled out all the stops when providing fun face painting and  a fabulous shows with juggler Boswick, and magic from Mike Murphy and balloon twisting from  Jimbo and Funnybone  the Clowns.

The day was captured on video by Custom Video Connection and film by amateur photographer Amy Blach, AMB Designs and we certainly look forward to remembering the memorable day for the kids.

To make this day possible, the NACE members at large that gave of their precious time really made the difference.  We had over half our membership give 4- 8 hours of their day and $29,390.00 in-kind donations.  It is truly amazing to see an entire hospitality organization come together in a true spirit of giving back to a community, and see the appreciation and enjoyment by over 800 financially challenged community members enjoy a fabulous day!