The Garden of Dreams Foundation and the New York Knicks kicked off the holiday season with a "Week of Giving" throughout the tri-state area. Hundreds of children serviced by the Garden of Dreams Foundation were treated to nearly a week of special visits and events beginning on Thursday, November 17 through the following Tuesday, November 22. The "Week of Giving" included a hospital visit, Thanksgiving dinner delivery, basketball-themed pizza party and special movie screening of the new holiday release "Arthur Christmas".
The week of holiday events began Thursday, November 17 with a visit by the Knicks City Dancers to pediatric patients being treated at The Joseph M. Sanzari Children's Hospital at Hackensack University Medical Center. The dancers conducted bed bedside visits with the children to distribute Knicks and Garden of Dream gifts, take photos, sign autographs and spend time engaging with each child.
On the following Monday, November 21, the New York Knicks staff, coaches, alumni and entertainment teams volunteered for a day-of-service with Garden of Dreams at one of the Foundation's partner organizations Children's Aid Society's Dunlevy-Milbank Center in Harlem. Knicks staff members were joined by Knicks Legends John Starks and Cal Ramsey as well as the Knicks City Dancers, to distribute 250 Thanksgiving Day meals donated by Garden of Dreams to families serviced by the center. As a special treat, the Knicks City Dancers provided an exclusive performance while guest DJ M.I.L. provided music during the event. During the distribution, over 100 children enjoyed a Papa John's pizza party, arts and crafts stations and interactive games on the Knicks Groove Truck.
The final day of events culminated on Tuesday, November 22 with an exclusive screening of Columbia Pictures holiday film "Arthur Christmas" in 3-D at Loews Magic Johnson Theater in Harlem. Nearly 300 children from the Children's Aid Society's Harlem Community Centers and Bronx Students in Temporary Housing Program received a special preview of the movie before its official release the following day, and were treated to popcorn and a soft drink by the Loews Magic Johnson Theater. The Knicks City Dancers and Knicks City Kids were on hand to distribute Knicks and Garden of Dreams gifts and kick off the movie with original performances of "All I Want For Christmas Is You" and "Run, Run, Rudolph".
Story includes contributions from the New York Knicks
