Each year during the holiday season, professional baseball player for the Houston Astros and Asheville native, Cameron Maybin, returns home and sponsors a wonderful party for local children through the Maybin Mission’s Holiday Project program:
“You don’t need a reason to brighten the season for children and families in need,” reads Maybin Mission’s website. “It won’t be easy, but with a little help from you, we can deliver a day of celebration that makes every kids’ dreams come true.”
To participate in the Holiday Project, children in need are nominated by various organizations and schools, including Big Brothers Big Sisters of WNC. Selected children are invited to a special holiday party with food, opportunities to play AND an assortment of gifts from their own wish lists.
Little Brothers Nico and Nino receive their brand new bicycles and pose for a photo with Cameron Maybin, his wife Courtnry and Santa.
This year, three local Littles were selected along with four other children and on Sunday, December 17th, the festivities and fun took place at XCel Sportsplex in Hendersonville, including a delicious spread of food catered by Acropolis Restaurant, a visit from Santa, a fun photo booth, bouncy houses and and other inflatables and plenty of other opportunities for active play.
Nominators also submitted a wish list for each child—and Santa brought them EVERYTHING they asked for—it was amazing! Our two Little Brothers Nico and Nino (who are brothers) received bicycles and lots of clothes. Little Sister, Chayla, received the ‘Baby Alive’ that she’d asked for, a slew of craft supplies, a gorgeous winter coat, as well as several outfits. Chayla was so overwhelmed that she burst into tears, at which point Cameron came over to her, hugged her and whispered something in her ear that made her smile.
After all the presents were opened the children spent an hour playing in the bouncy houses, shooting basketball and taking fun pictures in the photo booth.
We cannot thank the Maybin family enough for their outpouring of generosity for our Littles.
