Cincinnati - More than 25 Hartwell families affected by this year's economic downturn were treated to holiday festivities today at Drake Center including lunch, horse-drawn trolley rides, entertainment, and gifts from Santa when he arrived aboard a City of Cincinnati fire truck from Engine Company #2.

"The Hartwell Business Community Presents Christmas at Drake!" was sponsored by Drake Center and the Hartwell Improvement Council with support by numerous area businesses.

Families were invited to participate and submit their Christmas "Wish Lists" earlier this month. Area businesses and staff at Drake volunteered to "sponsor" the families by providing gifts from their "Wish Lists" and making donations toward the "Christmas at Drake" event where the families became Drake's special guests from 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.

"This day would not be possible without all of us working together to create holiday memories of a lifetime for these children," said event organizer, Cynthia Walker, Drake Center's community liaison coordinator. "The generosity of the Hartwell businesses has been tremendous, and Drake plans to make it an annual event."

Generous sponsors who contributed to the event and sponsored families include:

Catered Food Sponsors:  Penn Station, Lee's Famous Recipe Chicken, Kroger - Hartwell and Finneytown, Cosmic Pizza, LaRosa's - Wyoming, Servatii's, Gold Star Chili, Skyline Chili.

Event Sponsors:  Lowe's Springdale, Garden Ridge, Walgreen's, National City Bank/PNC Bank, City of  Cincinnati Fire Division, Home Depot?Colerain and Columbia Township Locations, HobbyTown USA, City Cure Ballet Princesses, St. Xavier High School Jazz Band, MOJO 100.3 Radio, CVS, Family Dollar.