Holidays at ABC

A hallmark of the holidays at the Association to Benefit Children is our annual skating party, held every December at the Rockefeller Center. ABC's supporters pay a substantial admission price for tickets, but they get exclusive use of the ice one Sunday evening for 1.5 hours. Fundraising and benefits are, of course, a significant part of working for nonprofits-- especially for those that are constantly looking for funding to support the work that they do. But last Sunday's skating party was different from your typical benefit, which I think generally calls to mind a dinner or auction of some sort. It was wonderful to watch families and children, including some of ABC's own toddlers, skating around on the ice under the iconic Christmas tree-- frequently losing their balance but laughing in spite of the 40 degree temperatures. As someone who works behind the scenes, writing grant proposals and coordinating program operations, I have to admit that sometimes it's easy to lose sight of the end goal. But I think it's sights like these-- little orange pinnies with the ABC logo emblazoned on the back, wobbling around on the ice-- that remind us of what we're working for!

Happy Holidays, everyone!