(Photo courtesy of Easter Seals Hawaii)

MEDIA RELEASE

The 12th annual Easter Seals Hawaii Gingerbread Family Festival, one of the most beloved community holiday events, is scheduled 10 a.m.-noon Sunday, Dec. 8 at the Honpa Hongwanji Hilo Betsuin in Sangha Hall in Hilo.

Guests will participate in building and decorating gingerbread houses, as well as enjoy other festive activities.

Proceeds will benefit Easter Seals Hawaii’s programs and services in Hilo for individuals with developmental disabilities and their families.

Easter Seals Hawaii is selling kits with everything to build and decorate two gingerbread houses including gingerbread donated by Safeway, an array of assorted candies donated by CVS/Longs Drugs, gingerbread men donated by Hawaii Life and icing in three colors (red, white and green).

Kits cost $29 and can be assembled on-site at the event or picked up to go. People can buy kits online at www.gingerbreadhawaii.com or buy kits by phone, 24 hours a day, by calling 1-888-295-2626.

Deadline to purchase kits online is 11:59 p.m. Dec. 7. Kits also will be available for purchase on-site.

“It’s a heartwarming holiday event for the whole family,” said Debbie Sasan, Easter Seals Hawaii administrative assistant and the lead organizer for this year’s event in Hilo.

“We see parents, grandparents, aunties, uncles…everyone comes out with their kids and has a blast. And the best part is, you get to take your creation home afterwards,” she said. “The cookies and candy last several days, but the memories last a lifetime.”

In addition to building gingerbread houses, this year’s event in Hilo includes a community competition where attendees can watch local businesses compete to create the best gingerbread house.

Last year’s festival raised more than $170,000 net for Easter Seals Hawaii’s programs.

According to Christopher E. Blanchard, Easter Seals Hawaii’s president and CEO, the organization hopes to increase that amount this year.

“We’re very grateful to our sponsors and volunteers who help us put on the Gingerbread Family Festival year after year and carry on a special holiday tradition for the community,” Blanchard said. “The festival truly captures Easter Seals Hawaii’s mission and the holiday spirit. It’s all about local families and the community coming together to help those with developmental disabilities get the support and services they need to live better, more independent lives.”

The 2013 Easter Seals Hawaii Gingerbread Family Festival is presented by The Harry & Jeanette Weinberg Foundation with title sponsorship from Safeway and CVS/Longs Drugs.

In addition to the Hilo event on Dec. 8, there are events on Oahu (Dec. 8), Kauai (Dec. 14), and Maui (Dec. 14).

To learn more about sponsorship opportunities, contact Bill Markevitch at (808) 529-1727 or email markevitch@eastersealshawaii.org.

To volunteer, contact Nathan Okinaka at (808) 220-8874 or email nokinaka@hhok.org.

Sponsorship and volunteer information is also available online at www.gingerbreadhawaii.com

Established in 1946, Easter Seals Hawaii is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization offering 22 service programs on the islands of Oahu, Kauai, Maui, Lanai and Hawaii Island.

Over Easter Seals Hawaii’s 67-year history, the organization has served and made a profound difference in the lives of individuals with disabilities or special needs, and has provided resources and support to their families.

Easter Seals Hawaii is the state’s largest provider of Early Intervention services for infants and toddlers and is one of the state’s largest providers of Medicaid Waiver services for adults with developmental disabilities.

Easter Seals Hawaii’s programs are accredited by the Commission on the Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities (CARF), assurance that the organization meets internationally accepted standards.

— Find out more:
www.eastersealshawaii.org