Return to Main Menu

MUSC Angel Tree program kicks off holiday giving by Cindy Abole Public Relations For a second consecutive year, MUSC employees will have a chance to provide holiday assistance and cheer to needy families this season by participating in the MUSC Angel Tree program.   Displaying MUSC Angel Tree gift tags are from left coordinators Liz Nista, Salvation Army's Sandy Scott, and Marian Taylor.  The MUSC effort is part of the Salvation Army’s Angel Tree program, which is co-sponsored by local businesses across the Lowcountry including WCSC-TV. MUSC’s Angel Tree succeeds by involving employee participants with individuals and families in the community who might otherwise not enjoy Christmas and the holiday season without the intervention and help of others, said MUSC Angel Tree coordinator Liz Nista of the Transplant Center staff.   Earlier this month, Nista and co-coordinator Marian Taylor began distributing Salvation Army angel tags to medical center departments and clinics and university offices. So far, they’ve passed out more than 1,800 tags around campus and at off-site clinic locations making MUSC the largest single employer-participant to this year’s Salvation Army’s Angel Tree program.   “We’re hoping to reach our goal of distributing 2,000 angels among our MUSC family,” said Nista. “We’re grateful to everyone who participated in making last year’s effort unforgettable. Marian and I look forward to guiding this year’s response to be even greater.”      For the next two weeks, participating departments and offices are encouraged to display and hang their angel cut-out tags on trees or other creative holiday displays. Each tag displays the name of a needy child or individual, their age and gender.      Participants can take tags in exchange for a gift or toy. Due to the lack of limited, secured space, there will be no scheduled, advanced pickup of Angel Tree toys or presents.   Participants are asked to bring their unwrapped, tagged presents to the MUSC Angel Tree holiday celebration on Dec. 16 between 1 and 2 p.m. at the Horseshoe, or they may drop them off at any Wal-Mart in the Debi's Kids Angel Tree boxes. Everyone is encouraged to help celebrate the project’s success by coming out. Angel Tree organizers and volunteers will help load a Salvation Army truck with gift donations. There will be holiday music, cookies and television coverage.      “MUSC’s participation again in this project is incredible,” said Sandy Scott, development and public relations director for The Salvation Army, Charleston. “We appreciate everyone’s dedication and interest in contributing to this project. By showing their commitment, they are helping us at the Salvation Army do our job this holiday to help and assist others in the Tri-county who are truly in need and are less fortunate.”      Last month, MUSC employees as well as other Tri-county residents seeking holiday assistance, were asked to formally apply to the Salvation Army’s Angel Tree project. According to Scott, all qualified Angel Tree recipients are assured some level of support handled in a manner that is both confidential and respectful.   Finally, employees and their families may consider providing additional support by assisting the Salvation Army in packing/preparation/distribution of gifts through this project, Dec. 19-22, at their West Ashley office, 2135 Ashley River Road.   For information call Scott at 7475271, ext. 15.      For information about obtaining angels or about the MUSC Angel Tree project, call Nista at 792-8382 or e-mail her at nistal@musc.edu. Friday, Dec. 2, 2005 Catalyst Online is published weekly, updated as needed and improved from time to time by the MUSC Office of Public Relations for the faculty, employees and students of the Medical University of South Carolina. Catalyst Online editor, Kim Draughn, can be reached at 792-4107 or by email, catalyst@musc.edu. Editorial copy can be submitted to Catalyst Online and to The Catalyst in print by fax, 792-6723, or by email to petersnd@musc.edu or catalyst@musc.edu. To place an ad in The Catalyst hardcopy, call Community Press at 849-1778.