This Cinderella story has a Part Two.
Back in October, Staci Smith gave her daughter and her daughter’s Garfield High School classmates — students with special needs — the homecoming night of their dreams, complete with a red carpet, confetti and a limo.
Dr. Scott Weiner, an orthopedic oncology specialist with Summa Health, read about the festivities in a Beacon Journal story and contacted their teacher, Leslie Coffey, wanting to do something for the students for Christmas. Smith had already purchased gifts and was planning a Christmas party for the class of eight, including her daughter, Londen, and her son, Keysean Stephens, but needed a cheery space to have it.
Weiner, who is chair and medical director of the Summa Orthopedic Institute, arranged for use of the auditorium at Summa St. Thomas Hospital and a pizza lunch on Wednesday.
“It touched his heart so he wanted to meet the class,” Smith said. “This is the to-be-continued story.”
“They’re so excited,” Coffey said. “It means a lot to the students, to be able to get out of the building, to go somewhere else. [Staci] Smith is such a gift to the class. She pulls the parents together. It means a lot to the students that their parents get involved in all this.”
The auditorium was festively decorated with red tablecloths, poinsettia centerpieces and miniature trees hung with red and gold ornaments and white lights as upbeat Christmas music played. Each student had a large stuffed dog set up at his or her seat. Smith and her sister Shakeenna Smith dressed alike in red-and-black-striped sweaters, black pants, boots and hats with elf ears. The vivacious Staci was the emcee, and she and Shakeenna danced and sang to Santa Claus is Coming to Town to get the students and parents excited for what was to come: a surprise visit from Santa himself.
“Who’s on the naughty list?” Staci Smith asked. “Who’s on the nice list?”
Santa, aka the Smiths’ uncle, Marshall Turner, made his grand entrance and recited Twas the Night Before Christmas.
And then it was time for the gifts, which kept coming.
First came red, green and blue tubs decorated with Christmas scenes, filled with toys and wrapped in cellophane. Then large Christmas bags. Then stockings. Then individually wrapped boxes, all amid joyful cries of “Presents!” “Open it!” and “Thank you!” And that was just Round One.
Round Two included T-shirts, Nike shoes and colorful tablets with matching cases.
Staci Smith bought all the gifts for the students with her own money, at one point working three jobs.
“I’m a professional shopper,” she said with a laugh, explaining she made her purchases at the beginning of November and got good deals. “The kids are covered down to the socks.”
Weiner and his wife, Margaret, are graduates of Firestone High School and like to be involved in their hometown.
“My wife and I try to do a lot of charitable things in the community and we were both touched by the article,” Weiner said. “We’re both from Akron. A lot of the things we care about are Akron-related things, so when I saw that in the newspaper, I contacted her to see if there was a way we could help sponsor that or other programs they may have.”
The Christmas party was a good first place to get involved, Weiner said. He and his wife have already volunteered to help with next year’s homecoming event and anything else that might come along. They’re especially interested in education and special-needs issues in the community — issues that are close to their hearts. Weiner’s father, Dr. Dennis Weiner, is a longtime pediatric orthopedic surgeon at Akron Children’s Hospital.
“He took care of a lot of special-needs children through the years,” Weiner said.
Weiner also has a nephew with Down syndrome and nieces with special needs.
For his kindness, Smith presented Weiner with a Heart of Gold award.
“Mending broken bones is your profession,” Smith read in a letter to Weiner. “However, you hold the capability to mend broken situations and families.”
Parents had a good time at the party, too.
“To see the smiles, it is just overwhelming,” said Leslie Horton, mother of student Jada Horton, 15. “Staci goes above and beyond for these kids. We so appreciate her.” Jada was having fun hanging out with her friend, also named Jada.
Julie Collins was there with her daughter, Cati, 16.
“This is amazing,” Collins said. “[Smith] has done it again.” Collins said Cati went to homecoming, too, and had a blast. “That was a wonderful day for her.”
“It gives these kids something to look forward to that they wouldn’t have had,” said Cati’s grandmother Darlene Thomas.
Cati was enjoying a Christmas cookie laden with frosting and replied “Yes,” when asked if she was having a good time.
“This is what I want for Christmas,” Smith said. “I don’t want gifts, I don’t want people to buy me anything. I want to spread cheer because I never had Christmas the way I wanted it when I was a kid. I was in and out of foster care, group homes. I just want to make the kids smile.”
Monica L. Thomas can be reached at 330-996-3827 or mthomas@thebeaconjournal.com. Follow her on Twitter @MLThomasABJ .