Holidays At Mason
Asst. Style Editor Nicole Ocran

It was a great way for Mason to start off the season of giving. Mason Ambassadors, in collaboration with Children’s Choice: Foster Care, Kinship Care, and Adoption Services, brought about 40 to 50 children to the Fairfax Volunteer Fire Department Station 3 to surprise them with a few special gifts for this Christmas. Children’s Choice has one of their many offices in Washington D.C.

Located on University Drive, the station was full of children young and old, some with their families, to enjoy a Christmas program complete with a lunch provided by Sodexho. The performances began with the George Mason University Gospel Choir who sang an array of Christmas medleys, along with Urbanknowlodgy who performed their hip-hop dance routine and even invited the children up to dance with them. Finally, junior Music major Samantha Sealock sang a few old holiday hits before presents were handed out.

The idea for this event began with “a collaboration of ideas,” said Mason Ambassadors member and junior Government and International Politics major, Kennedy Keenan. She collaborated with Children’s Choice after working with the son of Debbie Street, Children’s Choice Regional Director for the East Coast this past summer. “We just kind of had a dream and we made it work,” said Keenan.

Children’s Choice is not the first charity organization that Mason Ambassadors has been involved in. The Ambasadors have been involved with previous charity organiztions, such as the Make A Wish Foundation and Hero to Hero.

This event is “more like an outreach program,” said sophomore Austin Hill, a Marketing major and Mason Ambassadors member.

A few of the Ambassadors dressed up as ‘Mr. Mouse,’ ‘Mr. Elf,’ and Santa Claus and brought out Beanie babies, ‘Somebody at Mason Loves You’ teddy bears, notebooks donated from Georgetown University, and basketballs. Many other brand new toys were donated by Mattel, such as Barbie dolls and puzzles, and are being saved until Christmas day to give to the children.

Head Coach of Mason’s men’s basketball team Jim Laranaga donated over 70 items for the children, including Mason and Mason’s men’s basketball paraphanelia.

Dean of Admissions Andrew Flagel gave a speech at the end of the event remarking on the importance of foster parents and families, and during this speech said, “One of the things that I get to see everyday is how amazing young people can become with the right opportunities…it takes courage to be a foster parent, and it takes even more courage to be a foster child.”

Street, who travels from her home in Delaware to the Children’s Choice office in D.C. everyday, presented Mason Ambassadors with a plaque reading, “To the Ambassadors of George Mason University: in appreciation to service to our children, Children’s Choice.”