Hance family hosts breakfast with Santa

Santa and his elves greet the students.

Courtesy Island Park Schools

Superintendent Rosmarie Bovino with helpers from the school board.

Courtesy Island Park Schools

Hegarty school staffer points out a winning gift to child.

Courtesy Island Park Schools

Island Park students line up at the FXH school; to have breakfast with Santa and to get some gifts.

Courtesy Island Park Schools

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Many Island Park families continue to struggle in the aftermath of Super Storm Sandy, looking to establish some normalcy in their daily lives. With the holidays approaching, it can be particularly difficult for parents and their children. But this year the holiday season started off on a high note, thanks to the efforts of the Hance Family Foundation. The nonprofit organization sponsored Breakfast with Santa. More than three hundred Island Park children and their families gathered at Francis X. Hegarty School for the festive event. In addition to providing a healthy meal, the foundation filled the gymnasium with toys and gifts for the children to select.

“Thanks to the generous support we receive from New York Life and Aero Give (Aeropostale Foundation), we were able to assist in making the holidays brighter for some of the families impacted by Super Storm Sandy,” said Bernadette Smith, executive director of the Hance Family Foundation. “We learned Island Park needed our help so we jumped in.”

The Hance Family Foundation was established to honor the memories of Emma, Alyson, and Katie Hance, who were ages 5, 7 and 8 when they died in a car accident on July 26, 2009. The funds raised are used to support innovative self-esteem educational program for girls, as well as local education and charitable giving programs for children.