OCEAN CITY – The level of generosity has been set high this holiday season as a local 3-year-old recently accepted donations over birthday gifts for himself to give other children a better Christmas.
On Monday, Brantley McKenna, son of Kellie Meehan and grandson to Ocean City Mayor Rick Meehan and Stephanie Meehan, presented a $400 check to the Young Professionals Committee at the Greater Ocean City Chamber of Commerce.
McKenna turned three over the summer but due to the busy summer season in Ocean City he celebrated his birthday last month at the 9th Street Funcade and decided to accept donations for the United Christmas Spirit Campaign (UCSC) in lieu of birthday presents.
“We decided to do this because he has so much already, so we decided this would be a better way to give back to those kids who can’t afford to have a Christmas,” Kellie Meehan said. “It teaches him that giving back is important in our community and that is important.”
The Young Professionals Committee of Ocean City brings together the talents and insights of emerging young professionals, ages 21-39, in a dynamic and diverse group of peers with a passion for making a difference, a willingness to learn, the desire to build important relationships and the energy to get involved in the community.
The committee is gearing up for the third year of UCSC. The program provides 50 local kids with breakfast at Outback Steakhouse and shopping with a chaperone at Wal-Mart on Dec. 7. The event is modeled after similar holiday charity shopping tours but has been shaped by the Young Professionals to be a unique experience for not only the children but all of the volunteers involved.
To cover the cost, including $100 for each child and chaperone to shop with, the YPs committee, which is associated with the Greater Ocean City Chamber of Commerce, sets an annual goal of $5,000, which looks reachable thanks to donations like McKenna’s, as well as a $1,000 donation made by Wal-Mart this year, though more help is always appreciated.
For more information on donating or volunteering, contact Young Professionals USCS Co-chair Phillip Cheung at 410-524-2720 or send an email to [email protected]