Christmas comes early to the Hike Scholars

On December 18th, the Matty B's Urban Restaurant in Minneapolis provided a great setting for the 2nd Annual HIKE SCHOLARS Christmas party. The HIKE SCHOLARS and their families arrived early and eager to get to celebrate.

Matt kicked the evening off, as we do every month, by recognizing our SCHOLARS who had perfect school attendance during November. We had six SCHOLARS with perfect attendance and each was provided with a candy cane full of chocolate surprises.

Each SCHOLAR received a copy of The Christmas Gift by Francisco Jimenez to add to their HIKE SCHOLARS library. Matt read the book aloud as all the SCHOLARS gathered around him.

Dinner was a fabulous kid's buffet with just about anything a kid could want including mini-burgers, tacos, pizza, French fries and chicken fingers.

Just after dinner, Santa Claus arrived to fulfill each SCHOLAR'S Christmas wish. Santa led the SCHOLARS in the singing of Rudolph the Red Nose Reindeer just before he and Matt passed out the SCHOLARS Christmas gifts. The SCHOLARS received gifts such as MP3 players, Lego sets, Heely shoes, Baby Alive and Borders Gift Cards! After each SCHOLAR received their Christmas wish, each SCHOLAR FAMILY was given $50 Wal-Mart gift cards to assist with their own Christmas shopping.

After all the gifts were opened, the SCHOLARS went into to full play mode until the chefs at Matty B's delivered the ice cream sundaes.

It was truly a Merry Christmas for all and for all a good night!