ShopRite, Coca-Cola Help Kids' Holiday Dreams Come True

ShopRite and Coca-Cola brightened the holidays for local children in need, by taking 1,000 needy youngsters from the Garden of Dreams Foundation to an exclusive Dec. 26 performance of “The Radio City Christmas Spectacular,” starring the world-famous Rockettes. The Garden of Dreams Foundation is a nonprofit charity that works closely with all areas of Madison Square Garden to help children in crisis achieve their dreams.

This year, thanks to a donation by Coca-Cola and ShopRite, Garden of Dreams kids could attend a private showing of the annual holiday show . Through the companies’ support, 14 of the 21 Garden of Dreams partner organizations, including Children’s Aid Society; The Make-A-Wish Foundation of Metro NY, NJ and Suffolk; and New York Presbyterian had access to the exclusive presentation.

“ShopRite has always believed in giving back to the communities we serve, and this is one small way we can make kids' dreams come true,” noted Karen Meleta, corporate spokeswoman for ShopRite, the registered trademark of Keasbey, N.J.-based retailer-owned cooperative Wakefern Food Corp., whose members operate more than 228 grocery stores under the ShopRite banner in New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Connecticut, Delaware and Maryland.

“For more than 78 years, the ‘Christmas Spectacular’ has brightened spirits in New York City,” said Seena Cushman, VP of sales at Atlanta-based Coca-Cola. “As part of Coca-Cola’s commitment to fostering sustainable communities, the partnership helped 1,000 children from the Garden of Dreams Foundation enjoy the magic of the holiday season together with their friends and families at this special … performance.”

“The Radio City Christmas Spectacular” runs through Dec. 31, 2010.