Teresa Spague, and Carmen Graham help Curtis Scales and Ahmad Spague
shop for the perfect toy during the gift card giveaway at Toys R Us last week.
The event was sponsored by the Chris Paul Family Foundation and Flow Buick
and GMC.
Robin Paul directs local children during Toys R Us gift card giveaway on
Thursday, Dec. 15.
What can 200 children
buy with $100 each?
Foundation finds out
BY TEVIN STTNSON
THE CHRONICLE
Thanks to the generosity of the Chris
Paul Family Foundation, 200 local chil
dren will wake up on Christmas morning
with gifts under the tree.
Last Thursday, the organization teamed
up with Flow Buick and GMC to give each
child a $100 gift card and an evening of
carefree shopping at Toys R Us.
According to Charles and Robin Paul,
the parents of NBA All Star point guard
Chris Paul, the children were selected from
the Ken B. Carson Boys and Girls Club,
local recreation centers and
schools. During a brief interview with The
Chronicle among all the fun and excite
ment inside the toy store, Robin Paul men
tioned the foundation has been holding the
event since 2008.
She said the annual Christmas event is
unlike any other because it teaches chil
dren to give as well. Each participant that
received a gift certificate had to buy at
least one item for someone else.
"That's the only stipulation," she said.
"We felt it was important that the children
leam to give. That's what Christmas is
about: giving and-caring for others."
While navigating her way through the
maze of toys, Christeannah Nesmith, a
sixth-grader at Philo-Hill Middle School,
said she was looking for something for her
cousin.
"I think I'm going to get my cousin
something he can learn with," continued
Nesmith. "I can't wait to see him open it. I
know he will be surprised."
The Chris Paul Family Foundation was
founded in 2005 with a mission to help
children and families by leveling the play
ing field in all aspects of life, including
sports and education.
Photos by Tfcvin Stmson
Sisters Lorri and Juliana Davis check out after an evening of shopping at Toys
R US.
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Photo by Tev in Stinaon
More than 300 children received brand new toys last weekend during the 24th
annual Peace Toys for War Toys event.
Tajae Clark tries out her
brand new bike during
the 24th annual Peace
Toys for War Toys pro
gram on Saturday, Dec.
17.
^LLJSON
More than 300 children trade
violent toys for good toys
BY TEVIN STINSON
THE CHRONICLE
The Winston-Salem
Fairgrounds Education
Building was filled with
joy and laughter last
Saturday afternoon as
more than 300 children
gathered for the 24th annu
al Peace Toys for War Toys
program.
During the gathering,
sponsored by the city
Recreation and Parks
Department, children had
the opportunity to swap
toys like guns and knives
for less violent toys like
board games and basket
balls. What began as a
small community event
v
held at the Sims Center
Recreation Center in the
Happy Hill neighborhood
has grown to become one
of city's most anticipated
holiday events.
Now the supervisor at
Cari Russell Sr. Recreation
Center, Ben Piggott said
when he started the event
in 1992 he had no idea the
event would grow to what
it is today. Piggott started
the event just one year after
losing his brother to sense
less gun violence.
He said, "The vision
was to let kids know at an
early age to put the guns
down and let them know
that there are people in this
community who care.
g
"That was the vision
but I had no idea it would
evolve into this," smiled
Piggott. "The first year we
were in a small room, and
then the next year we
moved to the gym. It's
amazing to see how it has
grown over the years."
Along with the toys,
US lucky children also left
with a brand new bike.
According to Piggott, the
bikes and toys were donat
ed by Carolina Cruisers, a
local motorcycle club; lite
Prince Hall Shiners; the
local chapter of Phi Beta
Sigma Fraternity; and
countless others, including
the fire and police depart
ments, who squared off in a
charity game last month to
collect toys.
"I feel blessed to have
so many sponsors," said
Piggott. "I'm overwhelmed
that so many people are
willing to give."
After helping her
daughter Tajae pick out a
bike, Latoya Clark said
after hearing about the
event from friends, she *
decided to check it out.
"I think this is a won
derful event because it
teaches kids early that vio
lence isn't the way," said
Clark. "We have to teach
them early that guns and
weapons only create more
problems."
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H. Pitt and Ndubisi Egemonye in 1974 and is published
every Thursday by Winston-Salem Chronicle Publishing
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POSTMASTER: Send address changes to:
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. ; *
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Attorney At La*