In 1958, Ruth Sokolof and Bernice Wolfson helped establish the Childrens Sight Center Pre-school for children with visual impairments at the Beth El Jewish Synagogue. Ruth was a braille teacher who had a compassion for her students. To give her students an opportunity to enjoy the gift of giving at Christmas time, Ruth began sponsoring Christmas parties in 1960. Each of her students were given $5 and taken shopping so they could buy gifts for their family and friends.
In 1960, the Nebraska Foundation for Visually Handicapped (now the NFVIC) was incorporated and this Foundation helped host the Christmas Party each year. Ruth funded the party until her death in 1982 when her husband, Phil Sokolof continued to fund the annual party in Ruth’s memory. Since Phil’s death in 2004, his daughter, Karen Sokolof Javitch has provided shopping funds to assure that the party continues! The Christmas Party has grown from helping eight children in 1960 to helping approximately 150 children with visual impairments in the Omaha metro area (18+ cities) today.
The Christmas Party is held on the second Sunday in December at the Tilt Amusement Area in the lower level of Westroads Mall. Invitations are distributed to the surrounding schools to be given to each child who has a visual impairment that is enrolled in K-12. The party includes pizza lunch and a visit from Santa Claus. Each child is given $100 ($50 in cash & $50 in gift certificates) and is paired with a sighted guide to go shopping and wrap gifts.
Volunteers are recruited through local high school service organizations, National Honor Societies, Campus Ministries, and Student Councils. The NFVIC Board of Directors joins Special Education teachers, teachers of the visually impaired and Sororities to help register volunteers and children and coordinate shopping and the wrapping of gifts.
The anticipation of the event, making shopping lists and arriving to go shopping without family is a monumental day for these children. This annual event enables the children to shop independently and provides an opportunity to practice communication and interaction between the blind and sighted. This Christmas Party also provides some welcome financial help to many families.
The Ruth Sokolof Christmas Party provides blessings for all that attend. The 230+ volunteers are blessed in helping children bring holiday cheer home to their families. The children are blessed with the opportunity to give heartfelt gifts to their families, teachers, and friends. The hosts are blessed in creating a memorable experience for the children and their families. It is truly a humbling experience to be part of each year.
Thank you to the following businesses that make this party a success:
Norma Johnson
Jmrproductions@cox.net
402-393-3897