1228 Radcliffe Street, Bristol, Pennsylvania 19007, United States
Cheryl graduated Bucks County Community College in 2013 with an Associates of Arts degree. Before attending college, Cheryl ran her own home daycare for seven years, and then moved on to work in customer service and accounts receivable for 10 years. She went back to her passion of working with children with her in-home daycare and then as an instructional assistant at the Bucks County Intermediate Unit #22 for the last thirteen years. While working full time, she received her degree and founded her own 501(c)(3) called The Christmas Gala, a nonprofit that serves low income senior citizens throughout Bucks County. Cheryl began the organization out of the living room of her home and has since outgrown it and moved to an office in Bristol Borough. Growing from one program to three, starting with a handful of volunteers to over 50, and as of March 2017, she has resigned her day job and now works full time as the Executive Director of the company.
Cheryl has been nominated for and won many awards for her success with this organization. She and the Gala were finalists for 2017 Bucks Happening List for Power person, volunteer and the annual Christmas Gala event. The Christmas Gala was a finalist for community service from Lower Bucks Champions of Commerce in 2017. She won Bucks County Do-Gooders in 2014, a candidate for the Women of Distinction award in 2015, Bucks Happening Mover and Shaker award 2015, Bucks Happening Best Charity in 2014, and Bucks County Courier Times Emerging Leader 2016, Best of Bucks from Bucks County Courier Times for Non-profit and one of the Best of Bucks for Fundraiser, Bucks Happening 2018 awards for finalist for Best Nonprofit, finalist for Best Senior Care, finalist for Best Fundraiser.
At The Christmas Gala, our vision is to create a community where mental health is a top priority and individuals can access the resources they need to achieve optimal well-being.
Retiring in May of 2018, Helene has worked in the Physician Services world for over 38 years, first as a billing clerk for multi-specialty practices, then as an office manager for a Cardiology practice, which led to becoming a Regional Manager for Jefferson Physician Services – Northeast, overseeing over 12 specialty practices and their many office locations. Helene decided to retire to spend more time with her high school sweetheart and husband of 46 years, Michael. She is Mom to Krista, who passed away in 2005 from a brain aneurysm. Helene has spent years volunteering for various organizations, including The Sunshine Foundation, American Heart Association and American Lung Association. In the 1980s, she served as Activities President of St. Joachim’s PTO for 2 years.
Currently, she is President of The Krista Kelly Memorial Fund, which awards nursing scholarships, each year, to two second-year students at Bucks County Community College. Having donated for a few years to the Christmas Gala and loving all the wonderful things they do for our seniors, she decided The Christmas Gala was the volunteer team she wanted to be a part of, to help bring comfort and smiles to so many seniors in the area. Helene joined last year, helping whenever possible and wherever needed and joined the Christmas Gala Board this year. Helene enjoys helping others, reading, spending time with family, traveling to Florida and Aruba and any Girls Getaway she and her friends can do.
Nancy is Mom to 2 sons, Michael (deceased) and Kevin, as well as Grammy to Mike’s daughter Kylie and (great) Grammy to Toby. Nancy lives in Langhorne, PA with her husband John, granddaughter Kylie & great grandson Toby. She previously worked from home as a medical transcriptionist, was also a Notary Public, and has also previously worked as a Radiologic Technologist; now retired. Nancy has volunteered for The Christmas Gala for the past 9 years, which started after being a donor the year before, learning the story of how the program began and wanting to be part of keeping this wonderful program running.
Ashley was raised by two hardworking parents who instilled in her the values of effort, dedication, and community service. Her upbringing emphasized the importance of helping those in need, a principle she continues to live by. Recently, her family welcomed its first baby, courtesy of her sister, and the little one is already receiving an abundance of love and attention.
Ashley has a lifelong connection to Cape May, where she’s spent countless weekends soaking up the summer sun since childhood. It remains her favorite getaway spot during the warmer months.
Currently serving on the board of the Christmas Gala, Ashley feels deeply honored to be part of an organization committed to supporting seniors year-round. She is proud to contribute to a cause that brings unity and assistance to the local community.
Colleen has over 20 years experience in graphic design: 3 years for Bucks County Community College and 18 years for the Bucks County Courier Times, Intelligencer, Burlington County Times (Calkins Media). She currently runs a media marketing company MediaMinds Inc. in Horsham. Colleen was responsible for all of the marketing materials at the college and performed in many college events as well. At the newspaper, she won over a dozen awards for her work in news, features and sports design. As a freelance designer, she has extended her expertise into social media advertising, as well as logo design, advertising, branding, social media and loves working with small business owners. Colleen is really excited to be a part of The Christmas Gala. She lives in Croydon and loves spending time with her three children Dean, Shannon and Ryan and one very spoiled Boston Terrier, Autumn.
Donna is a retired IT building tech from Neshaminy School District who worked at Neshaminy for over 25 years. She is married with 3 children and 6 grndchildren, and lives in Levittowm.
Volunteering for The Christmas Gala over the past 3 years has added to Donna's years of helping those in need, whether through lending an ear to listen or by helping to support in any way she can.
When not volunteering, Donna enjoys vacationing with her husband, her cousins or her girl friends and visiting family on the West coast, or visiting cousins, aunts and uncles in New York.
Meagan is a professional artist and the owner of Nobleheart Tattoo Gallery, a unique space that combines a tattoo studio with an art gallery. With over 15 years of experience, Meagan has traveled across the United States, participating in and winning numerous art competitions.
In honor of her late grandmother, Meagan founded the Hermine C. Bohrer Senior Drive, a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing gifts to nursing home residents during the Christmas season. Her passion for supporting seniors led her to connect with the Christmas Gala, where she is proud to collaborate on their shared mission of helping elderly individuals in need.
Cindy received her Bachelor of Science degree in Occupational Therapy from Thomas Jefferson
University in Philadelphia in 1992. She has worked primarily with adults in various rehabilitation locations, but 25 of her 30+ year career has been in home care services in Philadelphia and Bucks County.
She is a certified home modification specialist and is an instructor at Bucks County Community College teaching community development courses for adults and seniors in aging-in-place, fall prevention and travel for adults 55+.
Cindy is also a travel agent with her agency, Full Access Vacations, providing personalized service, custom travel arrangements for each client, and attention to detail to make leisure travel accessible to all. She offers clients extensive knowledge and training in accessibility and various disabilities as an
occupational therapist. She holds certification as a travel advocate and autism travel professional as well as a certified Sandals and Aruba specialist, among others.
Cindy has been assisting and now is a Board member in the Epic program at the Christmas Gala helping seniors with emergency needs. Cindy enjoys spending time with her family and 2 grandsons and loves to travel to new locations and clients giving them a hands-on perspective.
Luanne is a retired special education teacher. She began volunteering with The Christmas Gala in 2023. Luanne appreciates being able to assist The Christmas Gala as they meet the needs of seniors in our community. She resides, with her family, in Levittown, PA.
Linda has been married to her husband, Jim, for 50 years. Together, they have two children, Jamie and Jeff. Jamie lives in South Carolina with her wife, Anne, and their son, Zach. A senior at the University of South Carolina, Zach is passionate about singing and acting in musicals. Jeff resides in Philadelphia with his fiancée, Crystal. He has two children, Colin (17) and Alyssa (13), while Crystal brings four children into their blended family: Jude, Hazyl, Lillie, and Adyn.
An avid animal lover, Linda's household has always been lively. Over the years, they've cared for a menagerie of animals, including pigs, emus, ducks, birds, fish, guinea pigs, reptiles, rats, prairie dogs, chinchillas, hedgehogs, and more. Currently, they have three dogs, all of which are therapy dogs.
Quilting is Linda's favorite hobby—a craft she's been passionate about since childhood. She also has a need for speed and loves driving her Hemi Charger. Ever the adventurer, she has skydived and flown in an aerobatic plane, and she aspires to learn scuba diving.
In January, Linda joined the Christmas Gala as the treasurer, bringing her enthusiasm and expertise to the organization.
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