FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Alexandria, VA (December 13, 2007) “The Children yelled with excitement as they watched Santa arrive at the ODBC docks by boat on Thursday, December 13^th”,said the ODBC’s President Elect Carolyn Dabney Bell. “These children are special to us and seeing their excitement brings the joy of Christmas to your heart.”

For over 40 years the Old Dominion Boat Club has hosted a Christmas Party for children with special needs. Lunch is donated and served by Club member volunteers prior to Santa’s arrival. Harry Harrington, a former president and coordinator of the annual event, said “The kids give back much more than I give. They hug you and thank you with big smiles. They sit patiently waiting for Santa to call their name to give them their gift and their faces just light up as their name is called. I can’t think of a better way to spend my time.”

The Old Dominion Boat Club donates $1000 which is used by the teachers to purchase gifts for each child who attends the party. The children ranging in ages from 7 to 12 are from Jefferson-Houston Elementary School, John Adams Elementary School, Mt. Vernon Community School and James K. Polk Elementary School. Approximately 80 children attended along with teachers, aids and parents.

Club Member Lenny Quinn who has played Santa since it began over 40 years ago said, “I look forward to this each year. This is an important event to our children. I plan to share this heartwarming experience with our children for many years.”

Harrington said, “many thanks to the DC Harbor Police for delivering Santa by boat, to Club Members Jerry & Jean Lutsky for donating lunch, to Jan Epstein for donating ice cream and to the many volunteers who donated cookies and their time to assist. Everyone’s support made this a remembrance for our kids.”

Old Dominion Boat Club

The Old Dominion Boat Club, the oldest rowing boat club in the United States, has been located at the foot of King Street in the Alexandria since its first meeting in September of 1880. Over the course of history, the Boat Club has consistently had a record of service to the community by its continuous support to the social, recreational, civic, and material progress of Alexandria.

The Club’s community support includes its sponsorship of Rowing by the funding of high school rowing scholarships, and a 40-year-long sponsorship of the Salvation Army Christmas Bell Ringing. Sponsorships also include fundraisers for the Alexandria Seaport Foundation, Alexandria Chapter of the American Liver Foundation, the Lombardi Cancer Center, the March of Dimes and making charitable donations to the Make a Wish Foundation and the Komen Breast Cancer Foundation.