Originally Posted by NBC40.net

ATLANTIC CITY -- Atlantic County's Hispanic Alliance threw a 3 Kings Day party for children at the Atlantic City Convention Center.

On the twelfth day of Christmas, these kids got… Elmo?

The original Magi: Caspar, Melchior and Balthatsar came bearing gold, frakincense and myrrh, but on this 3 Kings Day, gifts were age and gender appropriate.

3 Kings Day is actually Sunday.

It marks the end of Epiphany, the time on the Christian calendar when wise men from the East came to give the baby Jesus gifts and warn Mary and Joseph of danger.

And in many Hispanic countries it's a big part of celebrating Christmas.

"What we used to do as a child we would take a little shoe box, put it under the bed, we would have a little hay and that would be for the 3 kings to come and they would leave us presents," said Manny Aponte of the Atlantic County Hispanic Alliance.

Toys for Tots, Catholic Charities and Atlanticare were among the contributors that supplied more than 500 kids with a fun morning, topped with gifts.

"I think it reflects the Hispanic community in Atlantic City and Atlantic County in general, we have some families that are needy and were not able to provide gifts around Christmas time," said Jorge Coombs of the Atlantic County Hispanic Alliance.

More than just presents, organizers hope kids receive a better understanding what they're family's traditions are.

"Children may or may not understand but something tangle like seeing the 3 wise men, they understand," said Aponte.

Community leaders say being American and Hispanic is not the same for every child.

"Even though many people here are used to celebrating certain traditions such as 3 kings, there are people here today that are part of our community that didn't celebrate this tradition," said Coombs.

And while the 3 gift-bearing kings may not look much like Santa, they can deliver the same smiles, and occasional tears.

The Hispanic Alliance of Atlantic County (HAAC) is proud to announce the recipients of the 2008 Luis A. Molina Scholarship.

Atlantic County, May 8, 2008

The Luis A. Molina Scholarship is awarded annually to graduating Latino students in Atlantic County high schools pursuing a college education. The scholarship is ased on merit and academic achievement, not on financial need.

This year, two students from local high schools were selected to be the recipients of this award. Each student will receive $2,000 to be paid in $500 installments over their 4 years college career.

The Festival Latino-Americano is the main fundraising event for the Luis A. Molina Scholarship fund. To date, the Hispanic Alliance of Atlantic County (HAAC) has awarded over $120,000 of the festival’s proceeds to Hispanic high school graduates in recognition of their superior academic performance, outstanding leadership ability, and exceptional extracurricular involvement.

2008 Recipients of the Luis A. Molina Scholarship
Christina M. Santiago (Hammonton High School)
Alice Servellon (Absegami High School)

On Wednesday, October 10th, 2007, students from five Atlantic County high schools joined together at Stockton College to commemorate Hispanic Heritage Month with an exploration of the music and the folk and traditional art forms of Cuba and the Caribbean.   Students participated in a series of hands-on workshops presented by the Hispanic Alliance of Atlantic County in collaboration with the International House of Blues Foundation (IHOBF).  The Richard Stockton College of New Jersey hosted the project, which included hands-on drumming workshops with percussionist Michael Hoebler focused on Afro-Cuban Rhythms, as well as an exploration of the traditional and folk arts of the Caribbean through visual art projects facilitated by the IHOBF staff. 

     The Hispanic Alliance of Atlantic County (HAAC) is a non-profit 501 (c) (3) corporation that represents the interests and concerns of Atlantic County’s rapidly growing Hispanic population.  Its year-round programs and activities are organized and coordinated by non-paid volunteers and the HAAC board of trustees.  For more information about this program, or other programs offered by the Alliance, please contact Sabrina Tracy, Information Officer, at (609) 412-7421or via e-mail at hispanic.alliance@yahoo.com.

The IHOBF is a 501(c) (3) non-profit organization dedicated to bringing the arts to schools and communities through programs that promote cultural understanding and creative expression. IHOBF programs teach about American culture and history through music and folk art, highlight diverse contributions to American culture and support youth participation in the arts. Program offerings and resources support teachers in their efforts to integrate the arts and related cultural content into classroom curricula, and encourage students to develop and express their creative abilities.  For additional information about this project, or for information about other IHOBF programs, please contact Pamela Ward, Program Director, at (609) 343-5782 or via e-mail at Pamela.ward@hob.com.