2 Events + 2 Locations On 2 Separate Days = Double The Impact
On Thursday December 24th and Friday December 25th the Brothers of Phi Beta Sigma (PBS) – Chi Sigma Chapter and the Board of Directors of Sigma Community Enrichment Initiative (SCEI) co-sponsored their annual Christmas Eve and Christmas Day Community Service program at Plainfield HS, in Plainfield (12/24/15) and South 17th Street School in Newark (12/25/15). For the past twenty-two years these two groups have leveraged professional resources and community relationships to permeate these neighborhoods with the Holiday Spirit and most of all “Love for Humanity.”
This initiative began as a community service outreach on Christmas Day at the Paterson YMCA in 1994. Since then the event has been hosted consecutively at various locations: The Newark YMCA, The East Orange YMCA, MLK Elementary School and now South 17th Street School in Newark, NJ.. In conjunction with their Christmas Day Celebration, the Brothers expanded their community service efforts to the Plainfield, NJ area and began hosting their Christmas Eve celebration in 2008 at Stillman Elementary School.
Since 2008 they have served over 2,000 individuals and over 500 families a hot meal during the holiday season. All the families were also given new and gently used articles of clothing, coats, hats, and gloves. Additionally, EVERY child in attendance is always given at least 1-2 unwrapped toys. Hundreds of volunteers turn out each year to lend their time, efforts and energy to help make this day a success. This event also serves as the organizations joint community service project for their Sigma Beta Male Mentoring Clubs in Newark, Roselle, Irvington and Plainfield, NJ. The elementary thru high school young men come out and assist their Mentors with greeting guest, organizing gifts, serving food, and helping to clean up after the event. Over the years this event has helped to instill the importance of giving back and Service to Humanity to hundreds of young men in our service area as well.
In closing we would like to thank the 34th International President of Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity Inc., Rev Jonathan A. Mason Sr. for coming out to support this event with his family. We would also like to thank all of our community partners who help us to make this impact by donating toys and clothes throughout the year; At the Newark Site – South 17th Street School faculty and staff, Zeta Phi Beta Sorority Inc. – Gamma Omicron Zeta; At the Plainfield Site – Zeta Phi Beta Sorority Inc. – Eta Omicron Zeta, The 21st Century Community Learning Center of Plainfield, the faculty and staff of Washington Community, Stillman, Barlow, and Evergreen Elementary Schools. For more information about Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity Inc – Chi Sigma Chapter and Sigma Community Enrichment Initiative Inc please log onto: WWW.ChiSigma.org & WWW.SCEIFoundation.org. The YouTube video from the News 12 recap of the Newark celebration is listed below. SCEI and PBS would like to wish all of our families a Safe, Happy, and Prosperous New Year! ~ JCW
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