Michael Schatzman, of Milford, on left, and Brad Green of Evendale dressed as Christmas trees for the party. Photo courtesy The Rotary Club of Cincinnati.
Janet Metzelaar, of Lovelend, at the piano. Photo courtesy The Rotary Club of Cincinnati.
Bill Stille, of Union Township, is ready to assemble toys. Photo courtesy The Rotary Club of Cincinnati.
Reds mascot Gapper delivers ice cream to the students. Photo courtesy The Rotary Club of Cincinnati.
More than 50 Rotary members and friends volunteered to be elves for the party. The elf with red and green hair at the center is Rotary Executive Director Sara Pattison, of Oakley. Photo courtesy The Rotary Club of Cincinnati.
When Michael Schatzman talks about his favorite Christmas gift, he’s talking about The Rotary Club of Cincinnati’s annual gift-filled Christmas bash at Roselawn Condon School.
The annual tradition reflects the Rotary’s 104-year history of support for the region’s first school serving children with significant disabilities. Many of the students’ families also face economic challenges that are magnified by medical needs.
“We bring gifts for every child,” said Schatzman of Milford. “But they give us so much more.” He said the memories of student smiles have kept him coming back for 27 years.
“I don’t have kids of my own, so this is a really special time for me,” he said. “It’s become part of my holiday tradition.”
This year, the Rotary brought Santa, gifts, music and games to close to 90 students, from kindergarten through eighth grade.
Mary Brandstetter of Columbia Township coordinated the party with her husband, Bob. “For some of these kids, this party is going to be the bright day of their Christmas season,” she said.
Teachers had helped students compile wish lists and Rotary members made those wishes come true with fluffy robes, Thomas the Tank Engine train sets, dolls, remote control cars and games.
More than 50 Rotary elves – most wearing holiday sweaters and non-stop smiles, kept the party rolling. Janet Metzelaar of Loveland played Christmas songs on the school piano. Bill Stille of Union Township helped man the “Make it Go” table, assembling toys and inserting batteries. Other Rotary members and friends decorated the school lunch room and joined children at tables, helping them unwrap packages and work on holiday crafts and games.
Richard LaJeunesse of Oakley, amazed students with feats of magic. Costumed mascots from the Cincinnati Reds generated smiles as they danced with students, and delivered ice cream and cookies.
“The children look forward to this every year,” said teacher Lauren Borcherding of Deer Park. “It is an all-accepting environment and a party that is accessible and fun for the students.”
Schatzman wore a Christmas tree hat and a red nose that lights up. The nose has its own story. “Last year I sat next to a kid in a wheelchair. He could not hear and could barely see. His teacher said the color he sees best is red.”
As Schatzman’s red nose lit up, the child broke into an excited smile. He leaned forward and laid a hand gently on Schatzman‘s knee.
“His teacher told me kids can sense a connection,” Schatzman said. “That moment was the best gift ever.”
The Rotary Club of Cincinnati started Cincinnati’s first school for children with disabilities in 1919, when it created hospital-based classrooms and hired teachers to educate children who could not attend school because of their medical conditions.
Those early classes eventually became Condon School, which today is Roselawn Condon, a Cincinnati Public School that serves more medically fragile students and more children with multiple disabilities than any other school in the district.
Over the years, Rotary has provided accessibility aides for classrooms and students as well as the annual party that assures every child feels the magic of Christmas.