The 59th Annual Archbishop’s Christmas Benefit for Children will host nearly 500 young people who receive services from over a dozen programs administered by Catholic Social Services of the Archdiocese of Philadelphia. They represent approximately 16,000 children across the Delaware Valley who benefited from residential and community-based programs offered by Catholic Social Services this year, including children with disabilities, at-risk children, and dependent or court-adjudicated youth.
The theme for the benefit will be “Polar Express.” The Catholic Community Choir will sing songs from Polar Express and act out parts of the story.
This year Archdiocesan high school students will participate in ‘Kids Helping Kids,’ a Christmas Outreach program. Students at eight Archdiocesan high schools and two private Catholic high schools will “adopt” a young student and help make his/her Christmas wishes a reality by donating and wrapping gifts. Representatives from each school will be at the Archbishop’s Christmas Benefit to help distribute gifts to the children.
Thursday, December 17, 2015
2:00 p.m.
Sheraton Philadelphia Center City Hotel
17th Street between Race and Vine Streets
Philadelphia, PA 19103
1:00 p.m. Saint Charles Borromeo Parish Choir sings carols in the lobby as children arrive and
the All Catholic Jazz Band performs as children enter ballroom
2:00 p.m. Archbishop Chaput arrives and greets children followed by a performance by the
DePaul School Spirit Dancers
2:15 p.m. Catholic Community Choir performs songs from Polar Express
2:30 p.m. Santa arrives to greet the children
2:40 p.m. Santa’s elves distribute gifts
More than just a one-time party for a few hundred children, the Archbishop’s Christmas Benefit for Children raises funds to support programs of Catholic Social Services that daily serve children throughout the year. Catholic Social Services assists more than 162,000 children, adults and families of all faiths throughout the five-county metropolitan area comprising the Archdiocese of Philadelphia.
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Editor’s Note: For more information or to make a donation in support of the Archbishop’s Christmas Benefit for Children, please visit www.archbishopschristmasbenefit.org/