Sunshine Corvette Club
Monthly Meetings
Annual Toy Drive
Photos of 19th Annual Holiday Celebration (2011) at Neva King Cooper Education Center
Corvette sleighs arrive with gifts
Santa, Miami Heat Dancers & Heat Mascot, Burnie, get the party started
Santa & friends working their magic
Santa & Burnie spreading Holiday joy
Miami Heat Dancers & Burnie spreading more Holiday cheer
Enjoy the recent newspaper article about our annual Holiday Season toy drive
Reprinted from The Miami Herald Neighbors, Dec. 12th, 2010
Vette owners bring gifts to special kids
The Sunshine Corvette Club visited Neva King Cooper Educational Center, a school for students with mental disabilities.
By Christina Veiga
Forget the sleigh and reindeer.
Revving Corvettes on Wednesday delivered black garbage bags filled with toys for the good girls and boys at Neva King Cooper Educational Center, a school in Homestead for children with severe mental disabilities.
In its 18th year, the Sunshine Corvette Club of Miami-Dade County brought holiday cheer to more than 100 children with personalized gifts, sweet treats and a show by Miami Heat dancers and mascot Burnie.
And of course, the jolly old fellow - Santa Clause - was there to dole out the plush stuffed animals, colorful books and flashing toys.
"They really do a lot of good" said Aaron Clayman, 33, a volunteer at the school who himself has mental disabilities. "That's what Christmas is all about: trying to make a difference and showing that you care."
Burnie ran in an excited circle as "Here comes Santa Claus" played on the loudspeaks set up in the school's cafeteria. Out ran the big man, into the crowd of students chanting his name and reaching out for hugs.
"I'm happy. Ho, ho, ho!" said Maurice Menes, 19. "I like Santa."
One by one, the children were led to sit in St. Nick's lap, and handed toys hand picked earlier in the year by the students' teachers. Some frightened students wiggled away, and Santa got a few kicks in the shins. But most relished their chance to meet the big guy.
"They'd have to hog tie me to keep me from this" said Joseph L. Jackson, a retired Miami-Dade County school psychologist - and the man behind the velvet red suit. He has participated in the school's holiday party almost every year for more than 20 years.
Joshua Barnhart, 13, sat in his wheelchair next to Santa. He was handed a big, red gift bag, but reached instead for Santa's hand.
When asked if he enjoyed meeting St. Nick, Joshua offered a big smile.
Most students at the school lack the ability to speak or otherwise communicate. Some also are autistic or have physical disabilities.
"It's really a tactile world for them," said Peggie Getchall, a teacher for 25 years at the school. "But there's something about Santa. The kids just light up."
Brenda Negron said her 14-year-old son, Alexie Santiago, doesn't need to talk to show his excitement for meeting the man with the rosy cheeks.
"You see he gets happy. He moves his little legs and claps to the music," Negron said. "He can't talk, but he shows it. And if he's happy, I'm happy."
Just being able to attend last week's party was a feat for Alexie, his mom said. Before, her son couldn't tolerate loud noises or lots of stimulus. Negron pointed to a sippy cup on the tray of her son's wheelchair - now he can drink out of it, rather than a bottle, she said.
"When they do something small...it's a party," explained Negron.
Negron credits the staff at Neva king for her son's progress. The school, run by the Miami-Dade public school system, is a place where teachers greet students in the hallways by name, and where the mascot - a toucan - proclaims, "You too can!"
"This school is special," Negron said.
About Neva King Cooper
Neva King Cooper Educational Center, is a school for mentally and physically challenged children and adolescents. Students range in age from 3 to 22. The Center also holds an annual golf tournament in April at Keys gate Golf and Country Club.
Vette owners bring gifts to special kids
The Sunshine Corvette Club visited Neva King Cooper Educational Center, a school for students with mental disabilities.
By Christina Veiga
Forget the sleigh and reindeer.
Revving Corvettes on Wednesday delivered black garbage bags filled with toys for the good girls and boys at Neva King Cooper Educational Center, a school in Homestead for children with severe mental disabilities.
In its 18th year, the Sunshine Corvette Club of Miami-Dade County brought holiday cheer to more than 100 children with personalized gifts, sweet treats and a show by Miami Heat dancers and mascot Burnie.
And of course, the jolly old fellow - Santa Clause - was there to dole out the plush stuffed animals, colorful books and flashing toys.
"They really do a lot of good" said Aaron Clayman, 33, a volunteer at the school who himself has mental disabilities. "That's what Christmas is all about: trying to make a difference and showing that you care."
Burnie ran in an excited circle as "Here comes Santa Claus" played on the loudspeaks set up in the school's cafeteria. Out ran the big man, into the crowd of students chanting his name and reaching out for hugs.
"I'm happy. Ho, ho, ho!" said Maurice Menes, 19. "I like Santa."
One by one, the children were led to sit in St. Nick's lap, and handed toys hand picked earlier in the year by the students' teachers. Some frightened students wiggled away, and Santa got a few kicks in the shins. But most relished their chance to meet the big guy.
"They'd have to hog tie me to keep me from this" said Joseph L. Jackson, a retired Miami-Dade County school psychologist - and the man behind the velvet red suit. He has participated in the school's holiday party almost every year for more than 20 years.
Joshua Barnhart, 13, sat in his wheelchair next to Santa. He was handed a big, red gift bag, but reached instead for Santa's hand.
When asked if he enjoyed meeting St. Nick, Joshua offered a big smile.
Most students at the school lack the ability to speak or otherwise communicate. Some also are autistic or have physical disabilities.
"It's really a tactile world for them," said Peggie Getchall, a teacher for 25 years at the school. "But there's something about Santa. The kids just light up."
Brenda Negron said her 14-year-old son, Alexie Santiago, doesn't need to talk to show his excitement for meeting the man with the rosy cheeks.
"You see he gets happy. He moves his little legs and claps to the music," Negron said. "He can't talk, but he shows it. And if he's happy, I'm happy."
Just being able to attend last week's party was a feat for Alexie, his mom said. Before, her son couldn't tolerate loud noises or lots of stimulus. Negron pointed to a sippy cup on the tray of her son's wheelchair - now he can drink out of it, rather than a bottle, she said.
"When they do something small...it's a party," explained Negron.
Negron credits the staff at Neva king for her son's progress. The school, run by the Miami-Dade public school system, is a place where teachers greet students in the hallways by name, and where the mascot - a toucan - proclaims, "You too can!"
"This school is special," Negron said.
About Neva King Cooper
Neva King Cooper Educational Center, is a school for mentally and physically challenged children and adolescents. Students range in age from 3 to 22. The Center also holds an annual golf tournament in April at Keys gate Golf and Country Club.