White Plains Firefighters Bring Holiday Cheer to Special needs Students

WHITE PLAINS, NY—, On Dec. 18, the White Plains Fire Department with Santa Claus and his friends Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer, Frosty the Snowman and Winnie the Pooh arrived at the John A. Coleman School and Children’s Rehabilitation Center in White Plains, bringing joy and merriment to the children and their families on hand.

Santa and his helpers did not arrive by sleigh from the North Pole, but rather, by fire engine, courtesy of the White Plains Fire Department. During their very special visit, Santa, his friends and firefighters distributed stuffed animals to each and every child attending the John A. Coleman School and the Children’s Rehabilitation Center, continuing a tradition that began over 40 years ago.

White Plains Mayor Thomas Roach, Commissioner David Chong, Chief Richard Lyman and Deputy Chief Richard Houlihan were also on site for the festivities. “These kids are amazing and the joy this brings them is really beautiful to see,” Mayor Roach told News 12 Westchester’s Lisa D’Souza.

Maureen Tomkiel, Executive Director of the John A. Coleman School, was equally touched. “Year after year, I still look forward to this moment each December,” Tomkiel said. “It doesn’t get old; there’s nothing like hearing the cheers of the children when they see their favorite Christmas characters and watching them hug and talk to them,” she said. “This event makes our kids’ holiday dreams come true.”

About the John A. Coleman School

The John A. Coleman School, with campuses in White Plains and Yonkers, provides community and center-based special education and therapeutic programs to children from birth to 21 years of age from over 50 school districts in Westchester, Putnam, the Bronx and Manhattan. The Yonkers Campus serves the residents of the Elizabeth Seton Pediatric Center, a nationally recognized pediatric long term care facility. The Coleman School has been recognized for the last six years as a School of Excellence by the National Association of Special Education Teachers (NASET) and is regionally known for its comprehensive evaluation component, early intervention services and inclusive nursery school, Children’s Place. The Coleman School serves over 900 children and their families. Learn more about the John A. Coleman School at setonpediatric.org/john-coleman-school and find us on Facebook at facebook.com/jacschool.

About the Children’s Rehabilitation Center

The Children’s Rehabilitation Center, Inc. is an outpatient pediatric diagnostic and treatment center providing services to nearly 4,000 children with developmental disabilities annually, ages birth to 21, who reside in Westchester, Putnam, Rockland, Duchess and Orange Counties and the Bronx. Comprehensive arrays of medical and rehabilitative services are provided to children with complex medical diagnoses. Many of our children use wheelchairs, walkers and/or communication devices. Visit the Children’s Rehabilitation Center online at setonpediatric.org/childrens-rehabilitation-center and find us on Facebook at facebook.com/childrensrehabcenter.