Christmas comes to Navajo children This year, Christmas will arrive a bit early for the children of Kayenta, Arizona thanks to Claremont real estate agent Florence Cohn, whose annual gift-giving project has brightened the holidays for thousands of the Navajo township’s children over the past 14 years. “Everybody has been so generous and so wonderful to give me toys,” Ms. Cohn said. “And the kids really enjoy it.” Organizing the effort out of her Claremont office, the 82-year-old businesswoman and philanthropist has been collecting toys and gifts from local schools, organizations and community members for underprivileged children living on the Navajo Reservation since 1993. On December 22, Ms. Cohn and a small group of volunteers plan to continue the tradition, making the 11-hour trek to the township to hand deliver the presents to more than 500 children at an annual community Christmas party. According to Ms. Cohn, the celebration and gift-giving event is a highlight of the holiday season for children living in parts of the township and surrounding areas, where almost 30 percent of families fall below the poverty line. “They don’t have the things that we do here in Claremont,” she said. “So it’s really good to be able to do this for them. It’s just amazing.”
“They’re really friendly, and very nice people,” she said. “It’s such a wonderful, wonderful place.” Township leaders and businesses have been especially supportive of Ms. Cohn’s efforts over the years. When Ms. Cohn needed a place to stay during her annual December visit, the Hampton Inn in Kayenta offered the entire volunteer party free lodging. “She’s been giving to the Navajo children for years,” said Rich Rivers, director of operations at the inn. “She is a very giving person and she does great work.” Township officials have already begun making arrangements for Ms. Cohn’s visit by notifying residents about the event and making arrangements with police officials to shuttle children living in outlying areas to the party. With less than 3 weeks left, town officials say the entire community is buzzing with anticipation. “The response has just been overwhelming,” said Kayenta Public Works Director Bill Cly. “I’m glad that Florence is still willing to continue doing this for students out here. She’s a community person that’s going out of her way to make some underprivileged children’s Christmas.” A longtime philanthropist, Ms. Cohn has turned her personal efforts into a Kayenta Christmas tradition. Although it takes a lot of work to collect and distribute the toys, she said, her efforts over the past 14 years have all been worth it. “To me, material things are not as important as giving them away,” Ms. Cohn said. “In giving, you receive.” In the spirit of the season, Ms. Cohn is asking Claremont residents to help make this year’s event the biggest ever. Although all donations are welcome, toys and used bicycles are especially in high demand. Donations can be made at 3 local school offices: Sumner Elementary School, Oak Park Alcott Elementary School and Alcott Elementary School in Pomona. For more information or to make a direct monetary donation, contact Ms. Cohn at home at 636-4206 or her office at 642-4505.
—Travis Kaya
|
 
|
December 8, 2007
December 8, 2007