St. Thomas youth experienced a little holiday magic on Wednesday when the Department of Tourism, in collaboration with the Florida-Caribbean Cruise Association and Disney Cruise Line, hosted the annual Disney Holiday Gift Project at the Marriott’s Frenchman’s Reef Beach Resort.
The project is an annual holiday event hosted by the V.I. Department of Tourism for less fortunate children in the U.S. Virgin Islands. Over 200 children from the Department of Special Education and various Department of Human Services’ programs participated in this year’s event. During the festivities, each child received gifts and light refreshments, while Disney characters, creative artists and volunteers entertained the children for a true Caribbean Christmas experience, according to a press release issued on Friday by the V.I. Department of Tourism.
"Every year we look forward to this event, which brightens the holidays for so many local children," said Commissioner of Tourism Beverly Nicholson-Doty. "We are so thankful to the Florida-Caribbean Cruise Association and Disney Cruise Line for continuing to support this important event year after year. We also extend thanks to Frenchman’s Reef Marriott for being a major local sponsor."
As part of the program, FCCA Cruise Lines will be providing gifts to more than 6,000 under-privileged children in 28 different destinations throughout the region, including the U.S.V.I.