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Tag: Lawton Chiles Christmas for Kids

Sandbar party big fun for kids

Sandbar party big fun for kids

Written by Jason Schaffer on . Posted in Entertainment, Holiday.

ANNA MARIA – Chiles Hospitality hosted the 28th Annual Lawton Chiles Christmas for Kids Party on Dec. 14 at the Grand Pavilion of the Sandbar restaurant, 100 Spring Ave.

Every year, Chiles Hospitality staff plans and executes the event, buying and wrapping gifts for around 80 pre-kindergarten students from RCMA, a non-profit childcare organization, as well as kids from Children First Head Start and Early Head Start.

The annual tradition, started by the late Gov. Lawton Chiles and his wife, Rhea, provides underserved youth with a holiday celebration thanks to the help of private and corporate sponsors.

“We continue to honor the Chiles legacy with this beloved holiday party and our staff looks forward to it each year,” said Chuck Wolfe, CEO of Chiles Hospitality. “With their help and the contribution from local sponsors, it guarantees a happy and memorable day for these students. We are thankful to all those who help us preserve this tradition.”

Parents also showed their appreciation for the effort put into making this event possible once again this year.

“It’s amazing what these people put together. My daughter is going to be exhausted after all the excitement and running around with all these kids,” Donatta Holly said. “The food is amazing and the staff has treated us like royalty. They’re good people.”

In addition to receiving a present, each child in attendance received a new pair of shoes and a new outfit. Of course, Santa was excited to be in attendance and children also got to meet characters from the Frozen film, took a spin in a castle bounce house, and enjoyed a snow machine, music, crafts and other activities, in addition to lunch provided by Sandbar restaurant for the whole family.

Kids see Santa at Sandbar

Kids see Santa at Sandbar

Written by Tom Vaught on . Posted in Anna Maria, Community News.

ANNA MARIA – It was a winter wonderland for around 70 children and their parents at the Sandbar restaurant on Wednesday at the Lawton Chiles Christmas for Kids Party.

Sandbar owner Ed Chiles, son of the late Florida governor, was there with his wife, Tina, daughter, Ashley, and a host of volunteers plus DJ Chuck Caudill with a bagful of Christmas
music. The children were members of RMCA, a non-profit agency that provides care and education to migrant children, and Head Start Rise and Shine Early Education Program.

As the kids came into the pavilion with their parents, Ed Chiles remembered when he promised to carry on his father’s tradition almost 20 years ago.

“I was proud when my employees voted to name it after dad,” he said. “It never fails to put me in the Christmas spirit.”

After the families got seated, the kids got up to explore. There were bounce houses on the beach. The morning’s fog made them look eerie. There was an inflatable pirate’s ship with an inflatable parrot on a mast. There was face painting, and holiday crafts featuring cartoon characters.

The children surrounded Mickey and Minnie Mouse, Dora the Explorer and Woody from Toy Story. They posed for pictures and gave the characters hugs. Then lunch was served with
chicken fingers, French fries, mac and cheese, salad, fruit and more.

After that, the kids were told Santa was nearby and they moved to the parking lot. Suddenly, a siren sounded, and a West Manatee Fire Rescue truck pulled up, and Santa waved and stepped down.

He was immediately surrounded by kids. Santa moved through the pavilion to a structure on the beach with a chair and packages. Staff from the Sandbar and the two guest agencies got the packages to Santa to distribute.

“I want to thank my staff, the volunteers and everyone who made this possible for these many years,” Chiles said. “They help keep the spirit alive.”

Christmas for Kids

Deserving kids celebrate on the beach

Written by Tom Vaught on . Posted in Entertainment, Holiday.

ANNA MARIA – The weather on Wednesday, Dec. 12 was perfect for the Lawton Chiles Christmas for Kids. It was sunny and just cool enough to make it feel like Christmas; and it was an early Christmas.

The kids came from Head Start at Rise and Shine Early Learning Center in Bradenton and RCMA non-profit child development center in Palmetto.

Christmas for Kids
– Tom Vaught | Sun

After they arrived, the kids enjoyed jumping in the bounce houses on the beach, hanging out with Mickey and Minnie Mouse, Dora the Explorer, Woody and Elmo, doing crafts, having their faces painted and listening to seasonal music from Chuck Caudill.

One of the face painters was local artist Corey Wright.

“I read about the Christmas for Kids and wanted to be a part of it,” she said. “I found out they were going to have face painting, so I called them.”

Christmas for Kids
– Tom Vaught | Sun

Around noon, they enjoyed a buffet lunch and then Santa arrived on a fire truck from West Manatee Fire Rescue. As he walked toward the kids, they swarmed around him.

Christmas for Kids
– Tom Vaught | Sun

Finally, he got to his chair on the beach and passed out presents.

This year’s event was bittersweet as it was held on the 20th anniversary of the death of former Florida Governor Lawton Chiles.

Chiles Group owner Ed Chiles noted that as he watched the kids playing on the beach.

“After he died, I named this event after him,” Chiles said, adding he thought his father would be happy.