December Luncheon A HUGE Success!

If you missed December’s luncheon, you missed out on some heartwarming seasonal cheer. For a number of little boys and girls Christmas came early thanks to your CCAHU. There were so many gifts (and smiles from the little ones) we thought we’d need a larger room. A SUV and another car was needed to transport the gifts after the meeting. But the highlight was when we were then treated to some holiday cheer from the first-graders at Lincoln Elementary who sang some beautiful carols for us.

Just as we all come from diverse insurance backgrounds to advance our industry, so too does this special time come with different ways of celebrating the warmth of the season, from Hanukkah and Christmas to Kwaanzaa and the Winter Solstice celebration. Although different, they all are a time when people get together to celebrate family, friends and neighbors, and to share our common humanity. Our emcee for this event, Ms. Natalie Knighton was superb in illustrating how we celebrate diversity. The kids, too, got a lesson in diversity and the true meaning of all we celebrate with holiday readings by Len Barend and Tom Lalley. Dwight Mazzone informed and entertained us with a Winter Solstice tale.

Some special guests also came to share in the festivities. Eileen Oser accepted a check from your CCAHU for $750 on behalf of Sheros Community Development. There’s something about this season that brings out the best in all of us. In addition to this donation, your CCAHU also donated books from Spread the Word Nevada for the Lincoln-Edison Elementary School. It is amazing how good deeds have a way of multiplying, and in true holiday spirit, Lisa Habighorst of Spread The Word Nevada provided a donation of 1 book per child at Lincoln-Edison Elementary. That was a donation of over 800 books to their school library.

All this was a little much for Keith France, Lincoln Elementary School’s Principal, who was at a loss for words as he accepted a check from our President, Joan McEntyre, for over $400.

The luncheon closed with the kids getting a hot lunch, toys and stockings for bringing us a little holiday cheer. For many of these kids, these would be the only gifts they would receive this time of year.

That is the true mark of any organization…the helping of someone in need, the lightening of a load, the breaking of bread with friends and neighbors…and your CCAHU did not fail in this regard. There are many ways of giving and receiving; be it a check, a toy, a song, a story or a smile. When we do, we make the world a little better place for a little while. Everyone that attended this holiday luncheon was treated to the true meaning of the season. I am proud to be a part of this wonderful organization.

-Dan Heffley