RBAF Hosts a Holiday Puppet Party

By Katie McFadden

With a special puppet show performance at center stage, this year’s 7th Annual Rockaway Beach Autism Families Holiday Party was a big success.

On Monday, December 15, RBAF members, families and guests enjoyed a festive night at the Knights of Columbus. Everyone enjoyed food, arts and crafts, music, a visit from Santa Claus with toys for all of the kids in attendance, and this year, a Gingerbread Man holiday-themed puppet show presented by WonderSpark Puppets, that had guests sitting front and center to find out what happened next to the Gingerbread Man.

The man who single-handedly, double-handedly orchestrated the puppet show was Chad Williams, who shared as someone with autism himself, and with a son who had autism, he was happy to be a part of the night. “The show speaks to many different audiences and the point is to have a good time and it’s all about choosing family and coming together for the holidays. And when I heard about the event, about your organization, I was 100% on board,” Williams said.

After the show, a special gift was given to RBAF as Noreen and Frank Mullen presented a $1,000 check to the organization in memory of their late daughter, Cristin Mullen, a young athlete and special education teacher, who died in December 2020 after a battle with epilepsy. Each year, the Mullen family holds the Cristin Mullen Run and fundraiser in memory of their daughter. With the help of The Graybeards, they decided to donate some of the proceeds to RBAF. “Cristin always wanted to help people no matter what and this organization reflects those sentiments. You help the neighborhood, you help each other and you’re a wonderful support system and that’s why we are very glad to present this check to you this evening,” Noreen Mullen said.

“I’m so flabbergasted,” RBAF founder Kami-Leigh Agard said. “This is just so lovely. Let me tell you, Rockaway Beach Autism Families, since 2016, it’s like a gift that keeps on giving. Obviously, you want to continue your daughter’s legacy, so God bless you and thank you for blessing us.”

The holiday party was made possible from another recent generous donation, from Rich Pontieri and Jerry O’Sullivan’s charitable bartending gig in October. Agard also gives credit to Richie Knott for always being helpful at the Knights, and the RBAF team, including Venus Ramos, Matt Wolf, Rojo Rasaori, Rado Rafiringa, Dia Pastrikos, Ryngin Garcia, Kate Brown and Katie McFadden, who helped with the event. She is also grateful to the local businesses that donated raffle prizes, making the night extra special for some lucky winners.

Also making the event a big success was Empanada On The Rise proprietor Jacob Zuniga and Melissa Orlando-Romero who coordinated with the Howard Beach basketball team, NY RIM ROKAZ to organize a toy drive for the event. As a cool sunglasses-wearing Santa arrived, members of the team helped hand out gifts to the kids in attendance while they posed for photos with Santa.

After the event, Agard shared, “I’m just so happy we pulled it off, and brought smiles and laughter to numerous families. I’m so thankful for this beautiful neighborhood we live in.”

For more info about RBAF, follow Rockaway Beach Autism Families on Facebook and Instagram, email kami@rockawaybeachautismfamilies.org or check out www.rockawaybeachautismfamilies.org