30 Years of Heartwarming Holiday Kindness

Holiday Express is thrilled to celebrate 30 years of delivering holiday joy and music to people in need at its Sunset Benefit Clambake Sunday, Sept. 10 on the beach at McLoone’s Pier House in Long Branch. The nonprofit will honor the vision and legacy of founder Tim McLoone, along with recognizing his family and dedicated supporters.

“The beach benefit promises to be an unforgettable evening of music, dancing, delicious food and philanthropy as we gather to celebrate the 30th anniversary of our founding and recognize Tim, the McLoone family, and caring volunteers who are the heart and soul of Holiday Express,” said Executive Director Eileen Higgins.

“We are excited for some special guests to join us for this momentous evening, and we invite our community to celebrate with us on the sandy shores of Long Branch and help support our mission of kindness,” Higgins added.

Proceeds from the benefit will make it possible for the nonprofit charity to fulfill its heartwarming cause of “sharing music, food, gifts, financial support, and friendship to those with the greatest need for the gift of human kindness during the holiday season and throughout the year,” Higgins said.

McLoone, a much-celebrated musician, entertainer, restaurateur, entrepreneur, and humanitarian, said he is humbled to be honored by the organization that he founded and is grateful that his family is being recognized for their tremendous support and involvement through the years.

The Holiday Express story began with the approaching holiday season in 1993 when McLoone was asked to participate at an event in north Jersey. “If we were performing for one group, I wanted to share the music with more organizations with people in need of holiday joy,” McLoone remembers.

He turned to his network of musician friends with the idea of bringing the healing power of music to vulnerable people, inspiring the start of Holiday Express and a remarkable 30-year journey of spreading kindness.

During their first season, McLoone’s troupe of performers and volunteers organized heartwarming holiday parties for over 6,000 people at 10 sites, lifting the spirits of AIDS patients, people with developmental challenges, disadvantaged children, and isolated seniors. The nonprofit now serves approximately 27,000 people, making 100 stops to nonprofits between Nov. 1 and Dec. 24 across New Jersey, New York, and Pennsylvania.

“We believe no one should feel alone during the holidays, especially children and adults facing mental and physical challenges, homelessness and other struggles,” McLoone said, noting that for some individuals, Holiday Express volunteers are their only visitors.

The kindhearted organization is powered by 2,500 volunteers who lend a hand throughout the year to get ready for the bustling holiday season of bringing high-energy parties featuring live music, interactive activities, entertaining costumed characters, and individual gifts delivered by Santa and Mrs. Claus to organizations across the tri-state area.

In addition to honoring McLoone and the McLoone family, Holiday Express will recognize seven exceptional volunteers whose contributions reflect the organization’s core belief that “kindness is the greatest gift we can give to nurture the care and respect that all people need and deserve,” Higgins said.

The volunteer honorees are:

• Amy Brogan, Rumson; Cathy Cristiana, Middletown; and, Sue Wilson, Little Silver. They will be recognized for exemplifying excellence and a commitment to community service.
• Amy Broza of Neptune, a longtime member of the Holiday Express board of directors and a professional vocalist who sings with the Holiday Express band. She is being recognized for her spirit of selfless giving.
• Nancy Sabino and Mike Sodano, partners of Arts Rule and residents of Asbury Park. During the pandemic, the creative duo produced a concert video of the Holiday Express show that was shared with organizations whose doors were temporarily closed to visitors. They also created a documentary about the organization in 2001 to support the organization’s fundraising efforts.
• Courtney Setaro, a second-grade teacher in the Fair Haven school district who created “Socktober,” an annual collection of new socks among school districts that are distributed to Holiday Express clients. She is a resident of Middletown.

Leading the event committee are co-chairpersons Trudy and Charlie Parton, longtime supporters who reside in Little Silver. Their committee includes honoree Broza; Lauren Bertrand, Lincroft; Denice Gaffney, Manasquan; John Maglione, Manalapan; Mark Murphy, Little Silver; Diane Schneider, Rumson; and Pat Wotton, Fair Haven.

The beach benefit is set for 5-9 p.m., at McLoone’s Pier House, located in Pier Village, 1 Ocean Avenue, Long Branch, 07740.

Tickets for the 30th anniversary celebration are $300 and include hors d’oeuvres, a bountiful seafood buffet, open bar, live music from the Holiday Express Band and dancing on the beach under a vast tent. They can be bought online at www.HolidayExpress.org.

Sponsorships ranging from $2,500 to $15,000 are also available on the website as well as purchasing notes of congratulations and ads for the nonprofit’s virtual ad journal, which will be on display throughout the event.

About Holiday Express
Celebrating our 30th anniversary in 2023, we’re a charitable organization that brightens the holidays for vulnerable populations by bringing live music, entertainment, gifts, meals, hope, and joy to group homes, developmental centers, long-term hospitals, homeless shelters, special needs schools and other organizations in New Jersey, New York, and Pennsylvania. Founded by restaurateur and musician Tim McLoone, we’ve been delivering the gift of human kindness since 1993. Learn more about our mission at HolidayExpress.org.