The Prysmian Group is again making Christmas extra special for some Bethel-Tate Schools students and families.
Last year, Beverly Nelson, the senior executive assistant to the North America CEO, Valerio Battista, contacted Bick Primary School second grade teacher Mary Ann Dillon about providing presents for 75 children in the district. This year, Mrs. Nelson called the first week of December and offered help to 100 students.
The top-notch Bethel-Tate nurses, knowing the needs of their students well, immediately started contacting parents and gathering wish lists.
“What a blessing Beverly and the Prysmian Group have been to our students and families,” said Mrs. Dillon. “Sports celebrities and companies often make headlines by giving to inner-city students in poverty, but the impoverished rural students are often forgotten.”
Mrs. Nelson reported that money for the gifts was from Prysmian Group executives in the United States, Mexico, Italy, Amsterdam, the Netherlands, and Brazil. The department heads loved boasting to the others about how much money they had collected for their group of students, she said.
As gifts came in, the company set up tables with wrapping paper, scissors, tape, and to and from labels.
“It was a great bonding experience - gathering funds, shopping, and wrapping gifts,” Mrs. Nelson said.
Last year, we filled four vehicles from top to bottom with presents. We brought them from Prysmian Group’s headquarters in Highland Heights to Bethel and sorted the gifts by families. This year, with 100 kids getting gifts, it was decided to rent a U-haul and order pizza for everyone who helped, both of which were paid for by Mrs. Dillon’s family. Then, the unloading and gift sorting began. With 15 pairs of hands, the sorting was finished in record time.
“I will never forget last year; a mother was so excited to have so many gifts for her children and shed a few tears when she saw they were all wrapped in beautiful paper and bows. We easily forget that when stretching a dollar and trying to provide a Christmas for your children, wrapping
paper is a luxury,” said Mrs. Dillon.
