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| Volume XXIV, Number 1 | January 16, 2004 |
By Shelley Marmor
HOLLYWOOD — As Christmas approached, tribal citizens, Seminole employees, and community members showed they were ready to help less fortunate children.
On Tues. Dec. 22, the Seminole Tribe of Florida, The Hard Rock Casino, and Warrior Boxing promotions hosted the First Annual Toy Drive at the Hard Rock offices.
Participants at the event donated toys, which organizers divided up at the end of the night and gave to three local nonprofit organizations: The Boys and Girls Club of Broward County, the YET Center, and the Community Partnership for the Homeless.
While some people brought one or two toys, others showed up with a truck-load full of toys. Hollywood’s Tribal representative Max Osceola and Chairman Mitchell Cypress each had to have assistance bringing in all of their donations.
According to Melissa DeMayo, Osceola’s daughter, her family went to Toys-R-Us and bought eight shopping carts full of toys. Cypress pulled up to the event in a super-stretch Ford Excursion limo full of toys.
DeMayo, who came with her three children, Trevor Osceola, Chandler DeMayo, and Clarice DeMayo, said bringing her children to events like toy drives show them that not all children are as fortunate as they are.
“I think it's important [to donate toys] because we have so much,” said DeMayo. “I want my kids to understand that some people have nothing.”
In addition to Cypress and Max Osceola, tribal citizens including Tate and Robin Osceola also came to donate toys. Carol Collier from the Legal Department and Olivia Davis from the Marketing Department were among the Seminole Tribe’s employees who came to support the donation efforts.
Boxing stars Michael Moore and Ada Valez also appeared at the Toy Drive to sign autographs for their fans.
Local radio station WEDR 99 Jamz provided a live remote of the event, which broadcasted information about the Toy Drive to their listeners.
Listeners must have heard the message loud and clear because some participants traveled nearly 25 miles to donate toys. Several United States Postal Service employees from the Jose Marti Post Office on N.W. 27 Ave. in Miami made the long drive to donate about 30 stuffed teddy bears.
Towards the end of the Toy Drive, the Hard Rock Offices nearly overflowed with donations, however, Osceola expressed that next year he hopes for an even bigger amount of donations.
Osceola said that the turnout was impressive, especially given that promotions had only started days before the event. He added that next year’s Toy Drive promotions will begin much earlier, and will also be held at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino.
According to Osceola, charitable events are good “for the Tribe to share with the community.” He said that Tribal citizens should give back because they were once a disadvantaged group themselves.
“Luckily we are able to provide for our own now, because we were once economically disadvantaged,” he said
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