The Jeffrey Coombs Memorial Foundation
assisting families in needMilitary Holiday Party
We at the Jeffrey Coombs Memorial Foundation know the emotional challenge of experiencing the holidays without someone we love. Whether it’s a permanent or a temporary absence, it changes the feel of the holiday and makes it difficult to completely enjoy all the blessings and excitement the holidays bring.
We discovered a way to help temporarily alleviate the void the military families from Massachusetts feel over the holidays due to deployment, or having lost someone in the conflicts since 9/11. For the last five years, the Jeffrey Coombs Memorial Foundation has hosted a holiday party for families of troops who were deployed over the holidays, and families of wounded and fallen troops as a result of serving in Iraq and Afghanistan. Friends Cindy McGinty, Diann Corcoran, Sally White and Maura Yanosick all help with the event. Cindy and Diann lost their husbands Mike and Jake on 9/11, and Sally lost her daughter Susan Blaire. Maura is the founder of a Blue Star Mothers chapter and former president.
After being held at Gillette Stadium the first two years, its now at Christina’s in Foxboro. It includes children and teen activities and entertainment, a visit from Santa and gifts. There are visits from the New England sports mascots and local athletes and celebrities. This year we had the 2004 World Series Trophy and championship rings from the Bruins, Patriots and Red Sox. Former Patriots including Joe Andruzzi and Steve Grogan, former Bruins player Bob Sweeney, and Academy Award winning Actor Chris Cooper and his actress/author wife Marianne Leone were all there. There were zumba and hip-hop dance lessons, entertainment by pop artist Kenzie, Joe’s Crazzy Critters, video games, manicures, crafts, Shriner clowns, caricature artists and face painters, and so much more. We hosted about 350 family members at the 5th annual event this past December.
To fund the event, the Foundation held a three-day sale of artificial pre-lit Christmas trees and decorations, thanks to a very generous donation of product by GKI/Bethlehem Lighting of Taunton, and South Shore Terminal’s donation of space. Private donations to help fund the event are also accepted. The event is entirely free to the families.
“I feel honored to host these families each year,” said Christie Coombs. ”Military families and their loved ones who serve make huge sacrifices every day. Paying tribute to honor the real American heroes and their families is the least we can do. This is a fun, meaningful way to say thanks.”
Articles
12.16.07
Boston.com – In the holiday season of giving, a 9/11 widow provides a lesson
