Meet Santa and Make a Difference for Diabetes

Meet Santa and make a difference for diabetes
The fifth annual ‘Ho ‘Ho ‘Hope for a Cure! event to promote awareness and offer support to children with Type 1 Diabetes and the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, will be held from 10am-2pm on Saturday, November 21 at River City Ale Works restaurant in Wheeling.
According to founder and organizer Lorri Schodzinski, the annual event which was formerly called “Sugar for Reindeer,” was changed to ‘Ho ‘Ho ‘Hope for a Cure! to more closely align the fundraiser with the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation’s theme of “Hope for a Cure.”  “We thought long and hard about the name change as “Sugar for Reindeer” had become recognizable in the Ohio Valley, but feel the new name will catch on quickly and work out for the best in the long run.” 
‘Ho ‘Ho ‘Hope for a Cure! will follow the same successful format used in previous years as Santa Claus is scheduled to fly in directly from the North Pole to meet with children and their families in a private and relaxed setting.
“Santa will be listening to wish lists, offering words of encouragement and reminding all of the children about the true spirit of Christmas,” said Schodzinski.  “I encourage parents to bring their cameras and capture their child’s reaction to Santa in his ‘festive holiday office’ without any distractions.”
In addition, the event will include an active craft area with face painting, tree ornament creations, cookie decorating, crafts and information pertaining to juvenile diabetes.   Parents will also be able to order off of River City’s lunch menu beginning at 11am. 
Schodzinski noted that the event would not be possible without the generosity of area sponsors.  “I am so thankful for their support,” she said.  “Thanks to their commitment and friendship, this event has become an Ohio Valley tradition and we are making a difference in our community.”
This year’s gold sponsors include the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, Bordas and Bordas, Main Street Bank, Panhandle Cleaning & Restoration, and  Wheeling Hospital.  The silver sponsors are Mike Schuetz-State Farm Insurance, Ohio University Eastern, Our Lady of Peace School, Riesbeck’s Food Markets, River City, and St. Michael Parish School.  Schodzinski noted that Main Street Bank, Panhandle Cleaning and Restoration and Wheeling Hospital have been major sponsors every year.
The cost is $10 for the first child and $2 for each additional sibling per session with Santa.  Parents are free of charge.  All proceeds benefit the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation Search for a Cure.
For more information on ‘Ho ‘Ho ‘Hope for a Cure! or if you would like to become a sponsor or make a donation contact Schodzinski at 304-242-4248 or schodzin@ohio.edu.
PHOTO CAPTION:  The fifth annual ‘Ho ‘Ho ‘Hope for a Cure! event will be held from 10am-2pm on Saturday, November 21 at River City Ale Works.  Santa Claus and Jana Lu Schodzinski are looking forward to the annual event that benefits the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation.
CONTACT:  E. J. Schodzinski, Director of Marketing and Public Relations at Ohio University Eastern @ 740-699-2503 or schodzin@ohio.edu