Giving Gators delivers 1,000 toys to kids

     The Giving Gators charity entertained 200 children at its annual holiday party on Dec. 16 at Miami Lakes Town Hall and were welcomed by Mayor Manny Cid and Vice Mayor Tony Fernandez. That’s where a Santa’s Workshop was created by Fantasy Designers of Miami Lakes. Santa was joined by Frosty the Snowman and the Grinch. The kids enjoyed music, milk and cookies and could take photos with Santa and the Grinch. They picked out a toy to take home, along with a goodie bag filled with coloring books, crayons, books and candy. This giving season, Giving Gators said it collected over 1,000 toys donated by the community and distributed them to Miami Lakes United Methodist Church; Elevate Church; His House Children’s Home and Miami-Dade County Public Schools’ Project UP-START, North Region. Giving Gators Founder Daylin Garcia thanked donors Andrea Graham Rechichi, vice president of corporate relations at The Graham Companies, Neighbors 4 Neighbors, CauseMo Marketing, Langan Engineering Consultant and Sharkey’s Cuts for Kids in Miami Lakes. 

     She also acknowledged Barbara Goleman Senior High School’s Law Club; Bob Graham Education Center; The Breanna Vergara Foundation; Miami Lakes Middle School; Hialeah Miami Lakes Senior High School and Mater Gardens Elementary School, which all donated toys. The event was sponsored by Layer 8 Solutions; Headquarter Toyota; Galloway Logistics LLC; Modern Home Care; Specialty Smiles; M.O.P. Auto Parts and the office of Miami-Dade County Commissioner Sen. Rene Garcia. 

     Shown in the first photo are volunteers and sponsors Delaney Gutierrez, Moments by Del Event Planning; Giving Gators President Denis Brenes; Victoria Rico of Modern Home Care; Vanessa Rico; Chelsey Bohiga of Specialty Smiles; Suhem Nazal of Bankers Title and Escrow Services; Michael Coote (kneeling); Giving Gators Officer Mario Pinera (the snowman); Vice Mayor Tony Fernandez; Giving Gators Founder Daylin Garcia; Hector Abad (Santa); Maurits Acosta (the Grinch); Megan Garcia; Giving Gators Officer Emily Garcia; (kneeling) M-DCPS Teacher Nilba Linares (kneeling); M-DCPS Project Up-Start District Outreach Liason Ana Knapp; M-DCPS Social Worker Yolie Cruz; Alyssa Dueso and Sofia Valdes. 

     In the second photo taken at The Graham Companies’ headquarters are Nina Gonzalez, executive assistant; Cathy Quintana-Gonzalez, corporate accountant; Daylin Garcia, founder of Giving Gators; Laura W. Ratliff, portfolio manager, Commercial Division and Sarah Rodriguez, manager of retail properties with toys donated by company employees.