November 24, 2025
A joyful holiday fundraising event to wrap kids in care and community support, hosted by the St. John’s University’s Tobin College of Business for St. Mary’s Hospital for Children.
Members of the Tobin community are coming together once again for a special event this holiday season: the 2nd annual “Winter Wonderland” celebration at St. Mary’s Hospital for Children, taking place Saturday, December 6, 2025 from 10:00-2:00 PM.
This initiative is part of a Community Engaged Learning course and serves as the culmination of the Fall 2025 semester project of senior marketing students in the Peter J. Tobin College of Business’s Experiential & Event Marketing course, led by Professor Jeff Taylor. “As a Vincentian institution, St. John’s University is committed to service and compassion,” said Ryleigh McGinley, a senior in the course. “We are excited to live out that mission through this project.”
“This project gives our students the chance to see how marketing and event planning can create real, positive impact,” said Professor Jeff Taylor. “Partnering with St. Mary’s allows them to put their skills to work in a way that brings joy and respite to children and families who need it most—especially during the holidays. My goal in this class, and all my advertising and marketing classes, is to give my students real-life class projects to best prepare them to get an entry level job in the advertising and event marketing industry.”
St. Mary’s Hospital for Children, a trusted provider of pediatric post-acute and long-term care in Bayside, Queens, is an ideal partner for a mission with heart. For the safety of patients and families, this event is limited to St. Mary’s participants and the approved St. John’s volunteer team. However, the broader community can still make a significant impact by donating items or contributing directly to St. Mary’s Hospital for Children to support the celebration.
Instead of ticket sales, the event will be funded entirely through donations. Contributions such as gift cards, holiday decorations, or small giveaways for children and families are welcome. The goal is simple yet powerful: to create a joyful holiday celebration for children dealing with serious health challenges.
The Winter Wonderland party will feature crafts, live activities, gifts, and other holiday-themed fun, all designed to provide meaningful joy to children and their families beyond the day-to-day hospital setting.
How you can help:
- Please consider sharing or posting this event on your social media platforms.
- If you are a local business or organization interested in supporting the event through a donation (gift cards, decorations, small gifts), please reach out.
- Keep an eye on the project’s Instagram page: @stmaryswonderland25 for updates and highlights.
The collaboration between higher education, the local community, and pediatric healthcare shines through in this initiative. Together, we have the opportunity to wrap children in care and holiday joy. We extend our sincere gratitude for the support of all partners and donors and look forward to creating a truly magical Winter Wonderland celebration.