Stepping Stones Celebrates the Holidays With Ethicon of Johnson & Johnson

Date posted: December 17, 2020

On Dec. 11, ten Ethicon team members, 43 Adult Day program participants and 16 Stepping Stones staff united for a virtual holiday celebration.

For more than 15 years, Ethicon of Johnson & Johnson has generously sponsored a wonderful December celebration for participants of Stepping Stones’ Adult Day program. The annual event has become a beloved tradition both organizations look forward to every year.

Every year, Ethicon’s holiday elves transformed the gymnasium of our Drex Campus into a festive scene and led an afternoon of celebration for participants and staff. It’s a joyful event that’s always brimming with caroling, laughter and holiday cheer.

GOING VIRTUAL !

While much has changed in 2020, the Ethicon team was committed to keeping this tradition of celebrating the holidays together alive! And so in September, planning begun to take the annual holiday bash virtual – connecting six participant groups at three Stepping Stones locations, as well as ten Ethicon staff tuning in from home.

Planning a holiday party of this nature posed some creative challenges, but the strength of everyone’s holiday spirit was high and the Zoom celebration was ultimately a great success.

On Dec. 11, the 17th annual holiday celebration went live! The three-hour event featured a performance of classic carols sung by Ethicon’s Fred Hockney, or more formally known as Elf-is. Then, everyone hit their personal dance floors and danced to popular hits like Mariah Carey’s “All I Want for Christmas” and Kelly Clarkson’s “Run Run Rudolph”.

FESTIVE BINGO – WITH FURRY FRIENDS

Following the dance party, Ethicon’s Nick Laymon emceed a virtual game of Bingo that had participants competing from around Greater Cincinnati. Those tuning in from home also brought their pets in for the fun – introducing their family cat, dog or sometimes both!

Wrapping up the joyful celebration was a holiday greeting card exchange. Each Ethicon team member opened a card they’d received in the mail that was lovingly made by Adult Day program participants. Likewise, our participants also received a special holiday card as a keepsake to display at home throughout the festive season.

Stepping Stones extends a big thank you to our treasured community partner, Ethicon, for continuing to bring so much joy to our program! 

Ethicon’s Holiday Guests Included: Bea Guzman, Kurt Jensen, Cliff Labbe, Nick Layman, Kevin O’Brien, Thor Storm, Chad Weller, Nikhil Tindal, Eric Hulse, Alison Estes, John Soehnlen, Aimee Soehnlen

Ethicon’s Fred Hockney (aka Elf-is) opened the virtual party with a holiday performance.

Special thanks to John Soehnlen who served as the lead party planner for Ethicon.

Ethicon’s Nick Layman was a fantastic Bingo emcee!

Sherry competes in the virtual bingo.

Congratulations to Zach, a double bingo winner!

Krista models her festive headband that she picked up as a prize.