Friday, December 2nd was a day to remember for not just one, but three very joyful reasons.
That day marked the annual Garden of Dreams and New York Knicks “Day of Cheer,” which saw three simultaneous events spread plenty of smiles.
First, over at Maria Fareri Children’s Hospital, young patients received a surprise gift delivery – not from Santa, but from current Knicks player Ryan Arcidiacono! It was the perfect way to spread some cheer and kick off the day.
Nearby, at fellow Garden of Dreams partner Make-A-Wish Hudson Valley, young person Joe showed up to the Wish House without quite knowing why he was there. But Joe, a passionate Knicks fan and video game enthusiast whose gaming console had recently broken, had the surprise of a lifetime when he was gifted a brand new PS5. Of course, the joy didn’t stop there – current Knicks player and fellow gamer Immanuel Quickley showed up to give Joe a signed jersey and hop on his own console to play some NBA 2K with him! The pair was also joined virtually by a member of the KNX gaming team for a round of 2K none of them will soon forget.
Finally, we rounded out the day at a Christmas tree farm with three families from Garden of Dreams partners Memorial Sloan Kettering, Make-A-Wish Hudson Valley, and Maria Fareri Children’s Hospital. When these families arrived at the farm, hot chocolate and holiday treats were there to welcome them. They had no idea, however, that when they ventured out to the fields to cut down their own family trees, current Knicks player Obi Toppin would make a surprise appearance!
Obi helped the families make final decisions on their trees, posed for photos and signed autographs, and most importantly, led the families back to the spot where they had initially arrived. Upon returning, the three families found a bounty of personalized gifts for each family member – all courtesy of Santa (with an assist from Obi-Claus). The smiles on their faces are some we will never forget!
Overall, this special day was the perfect way to kick off the month of December, and families at each different event left with hearts a bit fuller and smiles a bit brighter – and of course, gift bags a bit heavier!