Reprinted from The Miami Herald, December 17th, 2006
Students receive special cheer,
Holiday wishes have been coming true throughout the week for the students at Neva King Cooper Educational Center in Homestead.
BY DELIVRINE REGISTRE U/Miami News Service
A long caravan of Corvettes accompanied by five Florida State trooper vehicles ceremoniously pulled up Tuesday in front of the Neva King Cooper Educational Center in Homestead.
Though the Corvettes were guaranteed show-stoppers, it was the gifts inside the cars that generated excitement and laughter among the center's 110 students.
And the surprises continued Friday, when a fire truck arrived bearing gifts and Santa. Classroom by classroom, most of the students filed out in their wheelchairs to the outdoor cafeteria for the gift giving.
The two days of holiday fun have become an annual tradition at the center, a Miami-Dade County public school for mentally and physically challenged students, pre-K through 12th grade. Classes focus on communication, motor, self-help and living skills, along with job training, rather than traditional academic classes such as reading and math.
The gifts and fanfare are provided by the Sunshine Corvette Club of South Florida, which sponsored the holiday party on Tuesday. Friday's party was sponsored by Ryder System.
"This event is truly awesome and always tugs at my heart to see the children get much-needed attention," said Lt. Edward Mizerany of Fire Station 16 in Homestead.
Because of their disabilities, most of the youths cannot talk; some even have trouble smiling. But as they received their presents, many managed a smile and happily showed off their gifts to their teachers. And occasionally, Santa, who was deaf and mute, got a hug and gave a smile back in return.
For the past 14 years, the Sunshine Corvette Club has made the Neva King fundraiser its main charity event, said member Connie Kostyra, who donned a red velvet cape coat, long green satin evening gloves, green tights, boots and elf hat at the Tuesday gathering.
Every year the club collects a wish list of gifts from every student. Members go out and buy every item listed, wrap gifts, and Kostyra, "the giant elf" at 5 feet 11 inches, gives them to the students.
Gifts on the wish list are not the typical toys that most children ask for this time of year, said Alberto Fernandez, the center's principal. "Our students are severely mentally and or physically handicapped, so the gifts usually are simple and very stimulating textually, visually, or through audio," he said. Among the gifts distributed this week were CD players with recorded music, balls, backpacks, clothes and V-Tech toys that light up with lots of sound.
"Luckily we have been able to get every gift listed", said Kostyra, a former teacher who is now an administrator in the School Operations Department for Miami-Dade County Schools who has volunteered each of the 14 years.The Sunshine Corvette Club also donated $4,100 to the principal's fund.
This is the eighth year that Ryder has done the Christmas event at the center, 151 NW Fifth St. Ryder provides sup- support for the school all year round with diapers, equipment and donations. Ryder also donated 15 computers and printers with software to the neediest families.
"Being immersed in the corporate environment day in and out sort of numbs you to everything outside of your own world," said Greg Green, executive vice-president at Ryder. "But being a part of something like this grounds me".
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