ATO celebrates 2nd annual holiday dinner with Boys and Girls Club

Children’s laughter, smells of home cooking and familiar Christmas carols filled Alpha Tau Omega on Tuesday night during its second annual holiday dinner with the Boys and Girls Club of Bloomington.

The fraternity invited the organization to have dinner with the brothers, see a performance by Ladies First and open gifts. ATO assigned men from two rooms to each of the 11 kids to buy them Christmas gifts from the kids’ lists.

“It’s been awesome,” said sophomore Ian Bell, one of the three ATO philanthropy chairs. “There’s a lot more interaction rather than giving a check.”

Boys and Girls Club Unit Director Chris Tann said his organization chose kids who would benefit from the holiday celebration and gave them a chance to see community service. He also said the kids could relax in the Christmas party atmosphere.

“It’s always fun to take kids out of their comfort zone,” Tann said. “You see them acting like kids their own age.”

The kids of various ages hung out with brothers as they ate dinner, then gathered around the Christmas tree to watch Ladies First. The group sang a combination of Christmas carols and pop songs.

After the performance, the kids opened presents. The brothers went to stores such as Target and Wal-Mart to buy presents on the kids’ lists. ATO Public Relations Chair Andrew Hubbarth said children asked for a mix of practical and fun gifts.

“We went all over to look for items,” said Hubbarth, who bought gifts for a little girl. “She wanted Barbie stuff, Ugg-like boots and a winter jacket.”

He also said he and other ATO members picked out surprise presents.

Some of the brothers said the kids were shy at first, but by the time they opened presents, the members of ATO and the Boys and Girls Club were laughing together. Kids tore open the wrapping paper and thanked the brothers for their new gifts.

Junior Grant Gavrick, another ATO philanthropy chair, said he loved seeing the kids’ reactions to the house and the gifts.

“It feels great,” Gavrick said. “It lets you know you’re doing something for a good cause.”