For about 200 Boston College students, last Saturday consisted of a morning journey to the Plex. Their purpose, however, was not a date with the Stairmaster, but with a young person with special needs for a day of games, entertainment and friendship.
The 17th annual Festival of Friendship brought nearly 70 guests to the Plex, where each was paired with a BC student volunteer for the afternoon. The guests came from local schools, as well as a mailing list, which was compiled from those who attended all the past Festivals.
Various BC student organizations sponsored carnival booths around the Plex, which offered activities ranging from face painting and arts and crafts to basketball.
Entertainment was provided throughout the day, beginning with the arrival of Honey the Clown. Performances by the Heightsmen, the Dance Ensemble and the BC Cheerleaders also took place. Many guests also enjoyed playing with the Eagle, as well as several students carrying puppets.
According to Elizabeth Russo, LSOE ’00 and a coordinator of the Festival, “it was a very successful day. At first, many volunteers had showed up and the kids hadn’t arrived yet, but soon after that everything ended up working out perfectly.”
Many of the guests present have been “regulars” at the Festival of Friendship for several years.
Jillian, a guest who has enjoyed many Festivals, accompanied the Heightsmen in singing “My Girl.”
“I recognized a whole bunch of kids from my past four years doing this,” Russo said. “It’s really great to recognize the same kids year after year, and to have them recognize you too.”
Buddies enjoyed lunch with their guests and the day concluded with a dance contest.
One of the most popular features of the day, according to many of those interviewed, was the moonwalk. Both guests and their buddies stated that bouncing on the air-filled float was a favorite activity. Volunteers and guests also joined together in numerous water-pistol battles throughout the day.
“I had so much fun,” Devon Noonan, SON ’02, said. Noonan spent the day with her buddy Michael. “It’s great that so many kids are able to come out and enjoy everything, but it’s even better that so many BC students are so supportive of the cause,” she added.
Lauren Aronoff, CSOM ’01 and a coordinator of the Festival, agreed. “Everyone, both kids and volunteers, kept talking about what a great time they were having. We’ve heard a lot of people say how wonderful it is that we put together a day like this,” she said.
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