| When thieves broke into the Mahi Shrine Auditorium in early December, and stole hundreds of gifts just days before a holiday party for physically and mentally challenged children, Gold Coast Mac and its retail partners stepped up to do their small part toward helping to make sure Christmas happened for these kids.
The Shrine obtains gifts based on wish lists prepared by the kids. On one list was a laptop computer, requested by one of the children who had perservered, and is headed for college. Shriners arranged for a computer to be donated, only to see it taken by the thieves, along with most of the other gifts.
Made aware of the loss, Gold Coast Mac stepped in to help, using our member contacts with retailers to locate a suitable computer at CompUSA in Deerfield Beach. Theough the efforts of board members Guiseppe DiFranco and Rose Lynn, Manager Howard Orloff agreed to sell the open-box computer for $500 under retail, a figure within the Shrine's replacement abilities.
Orloff also donated hundreds of dollars worth of computer software to help make the gift of the computer extra special.
If you've ever doubted the value of a strong relationship with retailers, this is proof how it can work for members...and the community. Thanks go to CompUSA Deerfield, and to everyone in the community who opened their hearts and wallets to help replace the other gifts in time for the party!
The Gold Coast Mac/CompUSA Response was part of an outpouring of support by a community outraged by the brazen burglary. Within 24 hours, donations of cash and goods had replaced all of the stolen toys to a level far above and beyond the original donations. Outside companies decorated the shrine auditorium, and Christmas was even brighter than organizers had hoped.
So strong was the response, that the Mahi Shrine was able to donate gifts to children at Shriner hospitals far from South Florida, and still have presents left over for next year's Christmas party. In addition, cash donations will guarantee the success of the program for years to come.
Gold Coast Mac and CompUSA are proud to be a part of this Christmas story with a truly happy ending!
January 2001
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