"Santa’s Helpers" Hold Huge "Wrapping Party" at NewYork-Presbyterian/Hudson Valley Hospital
Dec 19, 2015
Santa and Mrs. Claus join the organizers of the "Santa’s Helpers" program, including (from left) Sue Lepore; John Federspiel, President; Denise Pilla; and Maureen DiMaggio. (Organizers missing from photo are Rebecca Bowen and Debbie Petranchik.)
The "Santa’s Helpers" program at NewYork-Presbyterian/Hudson Valley Hospital in Cortlandt Manor has been brightening the holidays for deserving children in surrounding communities for 21 years.
Each year the Hospital works with the Westchester County Department of Social Services and other social service agencies to obtain holiday "wish lists" from families in need. In turn, Hospital employees forego spending money on holiday gift exchanges in their own departments and instead donate the money to a "Santa’s Helpers" fund.
Every dollar collected goes toward purchasing gifts. This year, volunteers spent $125 each on more than 100 children in the Cortlandt Manor area. Employee volunteers did all the shopping for each child and a family gift also was purchased.
And then all the gifts for the 100-plus children and their families needed to be wrapped! Joining John Federspiel, President of NewYork-Presbyterian/Hudson Valley Hospital, on December 17th for a huge three-hour wrapping party were employees, physicians, nurses and volunteers.
"Being able to brighten the holidays for these children and their families is one of the major highlights of the holiday season for our employees and me," Mr. Federspiel said.
Mr. Federspiel founded "Santa’s Helpers" in 1994 alongside a team of volunteers and, over the years, the program has raised more than $350,000 to purchase gifts for more than 1,600 Westchester children and their families.
For the "Wrapping Party," rows of tables were arranged in the lobby of the Hospital. Organizers purchased 100 rolls of wrapping paper, 60 rolls of scotch tape, and had up to 60 pairs of scissors on hand. Emery Rodriguez, a Marketing employee, entertained the crowd with holiday songs.
The Hospital’s own Teresa Pizzola of Medical Records was Mrs. Claus, while Santa is also Ed Hess, a retiree from Putnam Valley. The team also spread holiday cheer by visiting patients Thursday afternoon.
![Santa’s Helpers Wrapping Party attendees Alissa and Ellen](http://www.nyp.org/graphics/hudson/newsroom/500-santas-helper-party-Alissa and Ellen.jpg)
![people wrapping presents in a room](http://www.nyp.org/graphics/hudson/newsroom/500-santas-helper-party-another overview.jpg)
![woman and man wrapping a present](http://www.nyp.org/graphics/hudson/newsroom/500-santas-helper-party-Board member.jpg)
![a person handing a person a gift](http://www.nyp.org/graphics/hudson/newsroom/500-santas-helper-party-Bonnie and Jerri.jpg)
![a woman and a man wrapping presents](http://www.nyp.org/graphics/hudson/newsroom/500-santas-helper-party-Ellen.jpg)
![Santa’s Helpers Wrapping Party organizer Emery Rodriguez](http://www.nyp.org/graphics/hudson/newsroom/500-santas-helper-party-Emery Rodgiguez.jpg)
![Santa’s Helpers Wrapping Party organizers with Santa](http://www.nyp.org/graphics/hudson/newsroom/500-santas-helper-party-JCF and Santa and Organizers.jpg)
![Santa’s Helpers Wrapping Party attendees Photo 3](http://www.nyp.org/graphics/hudson/newsroom/500-santas-helper-party-John and nurses.jpg)
![Santa’s Helpers Wrapping Party attendees Photo 4](http://www.nyp.org/graphics/hudson/newsroom/500-santas-helper-party-John and overview.jpg)
![person in santa suit posing with a man wrapping a present](http://www.nyp.org/graphics/hudson/newsroom/500-santas-helper-party-John wrapping and Santa.jpg)
![Santa’s Helpers Wrapping Party attendee Kathleen Talbot with Santa](http://www.nyp.org/graphics/hudson/newsroom/500-santas-helper-party-Kathleen Talbot with Santa.jpg)
![women wrapping presents](http://www.nyp.org/graphics/hudson/newsroom/500-santas-helper-party-Loren and Kathy.jpg)
![Santa’s Helpers Wrapping Party attendee Luanne](http://www.nyp.org/graphics/hudson/newsroom/500-santas-helper-party-Luanne.jpg)
![two men wrapping presents](http://www.nyp.org/graphics/hudson/newsroom/500-santas-helper-party-Men.jpg)
![a man and woman in santa clothing](http://www.nyp.org/graphics/hudson/newsroom/500-santas-helper-party-Mr and Mrs Claus.jpg)
![Santa’s Helpers Wrapping Party attendees Pam and John](http://www.nyp.org/graphics/hudson/newsroom/500-santas-helper-party-Pam Lupfer and John.jpg)
![people posing for a photo with people dressed in santa clothing](http://www.nyp.org/graphics/hudson/newsroom/500-santas-helper-party-Santa and Mrs Claus and friends.jpg)
![man and woman cutting wrapping paper](http://www.nyp.org/graphics/hudson/newsroom/500-santas-helper-party-Sedrick and Tonja2.jpg)
![two women wrapping presents](http://www.nyp.org/graphics/hudson/newsroom/500-santas-helper-party-Sue.jpg)
![Santa’s Helpers Wrapping Party attendees Tracy and Kathy](http://www.nyp.org/graphics/hudson/newsroom/500-santas-helper-party-Tracy and Kathy.jpg)
![woman with roll of wrapping paper](http://www.nyp.org/graphics/hudson/newsroom/500-santas-helper-party-With Debbie Neuendorf.jpg)
![people posing for a photo with people dressed in santa clothing](http://www.nyp.org/graphics/hudson/newsroom/500-santas-helper-party-With George Oros.jpg)
![woman wrapping a present](http://www.nyp.org/graphics/hudson/newsroom/500-santas-helper-party-Woman in scrubs.jpg)
![women wrapping presents](http://www.nyp.org/graphics/hudson/newsroom/500-santas-helper-party-Wrapping Party Overview.jpg)
![a woman wrapping a present](http://www.nyp.org/graphics/hudson/newsroom/500-santas-helper-party-Young woman.jpg)
![Santa’s Helpers board member](http://www.nyp.org/graphics/hudson/newsroom/500-santas-helper-party-Board member 2.jpg)
![woman with wrapping paper](http://www.nyp.org/graphics/hudson/newsroom/500-santas-helper-party-MaryAnn Maffei.jpg)
![two women posing for a photo](http://www.nyp.org/graphics/hudson/newsroom/500-santas-helper-party-Taline.jpg)
![woman wrapping a present](http://www.nyp.org/graphics/hudson/newsroom/500-santas-helper-party-Tracy.jpg)