2nd Annual 'Deck the Hall-Festival of Trees' at Boardwalk Hall Raises $10,000 to Support Neglected and Abused Children this Holiday Season

Spectra by Comcast Spectacor, the provider of Venue Management and Food Services & Hospitality to Atlantic City’s Boardwalk Hall and the Convention Center, partnered with local businesses, organizations, and arena partners at the 2nd annual ‘Deck the Hall – Festival of Trees’ event to benefit Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) for Children of Atlantic and Cape May Counties.

In conjunction and with the support of Coca Cola and the Press of Atlantic City, Spectra at Boardwalk Hall solicited the community this holiday season, and ultimately raised $10,000 to assist neglected and abused children in the Jersey Shore region.

Members of these organizations spent the last week “decking” the Boardwalk Hall lobby with uniquely decorated holiday trees which were unveiled at a private kick-off reception with individuals and agencies that help local foster children and families.  Proceeds from the event will be used to help recruit and train more volunteers to serve and advocate for foster children in the welfare system of Atlantic and Cape May counties.

Sponsors of the month long event include: Tropicana Hotel & Casino, Borgata Hotel & Casino, Carpenters Local 255, ACUA- Atlantic County Utilities Authority, Abatis Security, Atlantic City Electric, Atlantic City Fire Department, Atlantic City PBA Local 24, Ducktown Tavern & Liquors, Dunkin Donuts, Falasca Mechanical Inc., Hard Rock Café, The Harlem Globetrotters, Harrison Beverage, Historic Organ Restoration Committee, James Fudge, Local 68 Operating Engineers, SOSH Architects, Thomas Roofing, and Ticketmaster.

“We are truly touched by the support of the community, the sponsors and the hard work of the entire Spectra team who organized this wonderful event on our behalf,” said CASA’s Karen DeRosa, Director of Community Development. “The children that our volunteers advocate for often feel unseen and unheard, but this event has shined a spotlight on the challenges that foster youth face and the many ways that everyone in our community can help provide a better future for each of them. Giving your time to volunteer or providing financial support to help an abused or neglected child will truly better their life, and in the process, enhance your own as well.”

“We are absolutely thrilled with the success of this year’s Deck the Hall promotion,” said Spectra’s Fran Rodowicz, General Manager of Boardwalk Hall.  “To see first-hand how children can be so positively affected by CASA is uplifting.  Giving back to the community is one of our top priorities and we are excited about continuing this tradition for years to come.  We also thank the CRDA for their continued support in our community efforts.”

Spectra has a proud tradition of community investment and a commitment to making a difference. Together, the Comcast Spectacor, Comcast, and NBCUniversal families empower its communities to make a difference by investing in local organizations, mobilizing resources, and connecting people.

Last year, the first annual Deck the Hall – Festival of Trees event generated more than $6,000 for the Community FoodBank of New Jersey Southern Branch to support those in need during the holiday season.

About CASA Court Appointed Special Advocates of Atlantic and Cape May Counties and its trained volunteers speak on behalf of abused and neglected children in the foster care system and are dedicated to ensuring these children are placed in safe permanent homes as quickly as possible. For more info, visit AtlanticCapeCASA.org.

About the Casino Reinvestment Development Authority (CRDA) www.njcrda.com and www.twitter.com/njcrda

The only agency of its kind nationwide, the CRDA has used Atlantic City casino reinvestments as a catalyst for meaningful, positive improvement in the lives of New Jersey residents, investing nearly $2 billion in more than 400 projects statewide since 1984. Under the 2011 Tourism District Act, CRDA’s mission evolved from statewide projects to becoming the state’s key economic development agency for Atlantic City. CRDA responsibilities expanded to include land use regulation, clean and safe initiatives, tourism marketing, ownership and oversight of the Atlantic City Convention Center and Boardwalk Hall, and partnership with the Atlantic City Alliance to brand and market Atlantic City. The former ACCVA, now a division of CRDA, is the first destination marketing organization in New Jersey to achieve prestigious Destination Marketing Accreditation by the Destination Marketing Association International.

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Spectra by Comcast Spectacor is the expert in hosting and entertainment, partnering with over 300 clients at 400 global properties to create memorable experiences for millions of visitors every year. Spectra’s expertise is embodied within three divisions: Venue Management (formerly Global Spectrum), Food Services & Hospitality (formerly Ovations Food Services) and Ticketing & Fan Engagement (formerly Paciolan). Learn more at SpectraExperiences.com.

Comcast Spectacor is part of Comcast Corporation, a Fortune 50 media and technology company that operates Comcast Cable and NBCUniversal. Headquartered in Philadelphia, Pa., in addition to Spectra, Comcast Spectacor owns and operates the National Hockey League’s Philadelphia Flyers and the Wells Fargo Center venue. Visit us at ComcastSpectacor.com, PhiladelphiaFlyers.com and WellsFargoCenterPhilly.com for more information.