TBO.com - TBO is Tampa Bay Online

Santa Visits Westchase

ADVERTISEMENT

The Tampa Tribune

Published: December 22, 2007

WESTCHASE - Thousands greeted Santa as he traveled through the streets of Westchase during the third annual Santa's "Pre-flight" Parade on Dec. 8.

The Westchase Community Foundation, parade organizer, collected hundreds of unwrapped gifts from the community to distribute to needy children through the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office District 3 annual "Sincerely Santa" program.

The parade grew dramatically this year and included sheriff's office and Hillsborough Fire Rescue escorts.

Santa rode atop a vintage firetruck from hireafiretruck .com and Tampa Bay Rays mascot Raymond served as the parade's grand marshal. There also were many decorated village floats as the parade traveled through Westchase and was welcomed by numerous block parties and children of all ages.

Santa concluded the parade by joining a party at the West Park Village center to light the community Christmas tree.

Sponsors making the event possible included the presenting sponsor, Century 21 Bay West. Additional sponsors were Fifth Third Bank, Coldwell Banker Residential Real Estate Cares Program, My Gym Children's Fitness Center and Wellspring United Methodist Church.

The foundation conducting the parade is a nonprofit organization that assists families with seriously ill children and works to improve the quality of life in our community.

For information, visit www. westchasefoundation.org.

DAN O'BRIEN

Westchase Community

Foundation president

Share this:

Loading Comments...

Email Print

ADVERTISEMENT