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December 10, 2012

Donation helps McCarty children celebrate Christmas

Transcript Staff The Norman Transcript

NORMAN — A record donation of $52,000 will be given to the J.D. McCarty Center on Tuesday.

The Oklahoma Municipal Contractors Association donates to the center and hosts a Christmas party for the inpatients every year.

“They (OMCA) are dedicated to the support of the programs and services provided by this pediatric rehab hospital to children with developmental disabilities from all over Oklahoma,” a McCarty Center press release said.

The OMCA conducts an annual charity golf tournament in September. A small portion of the proceeds from the tournament go toward providing a Christmas party for the inpatients. OMCA members are provided with a wish list for each of the McCarty Center patients.

The party will include a visit from Mr. and Mrs. Santa Claus, Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer and Santa’s elves and helpers made up of OMCA members and their families.

The majority of the proceeds from their fundraiser support various McCarty Center projects. The OMCA has a relationship with the center that goes back at least 50 years. It is the only charity that the OMCA supports.

The McCarty Center kicked off the holiday season at the beginning of the month with a lighting ceremony and golf cart parade. They won’t be stopping after the OMCA Christmas party, though.

A “Santa’s Helpers” party also will be put on by the founders of the center later on this month. The veterans group helps provide gifts for children. Donations are accepted for the event.

Greg Gaston, marketing director of the J.D. McCarty Center, said the event helps because for some children at the hospital, that will be the only Christmas present they receive.

The pediatric rehabilitation center is the only facility of its kind in the state, helping children from birth up until age 21 and focusing on children with developmental disabilities.

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