AT FESTIVAL OF CHRISTMAS

 

Nearly 1,000 guests came out on Thursday, December 15, to the Keene Entertainment Center for some much needed holiday cheer.  Over 500 children and nearly 500 adults were greeted by a team of 40 volunteers whose primary goal was to make sure each guest felt welcome and had a great time.  Everything from visits from the Tooth Fairy (complements of the UK College of Dentistry) to Santa Claus helped make the event lively.  A delicious dinner prepared by Turf Catering along with a huge selection of deserts was enjoyed by all. 

 

The Keene Barn was set up as a shopping complex complete with new coats for children from the Keeneland Gift Shop along with thousands of items of warm,gently used clothing donated to BGFC.  Volunteers spent hundreds of hours combing through clothing checking for spots, holes or missing buttons.  All of the clothing brought out was in excellent condition and ready to wear. 

 

Each child received a new toy, a hat and gloves, coloring book and crayons and a big bag of candies.  The YMCA also provided free books for each child to take home.  Each toy was hand-picked by BGFC's president and CEO, Mary Lee-Butte. 

 

 "This was the most grateful crowd of people we have ever had.  I couldn't have been more pleased with the attendance.  We really hit our target group", state Mary. 

 

This is the first year that BGFC has been in charge of conducting sign-ups at Keeneland's backstretch and training facilities.  "We got out there and found the folks in need.  Many of the families took their gifts home to open on Christmas morning.  These are the families that we wanted to help the most.  We know their kids will have something special under the tree", says Lee-Butte.