THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Tuesday, December 12, 1995 TAG: 9512120265
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B3 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: By KERRY DEROCHI, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: PORTSMOUTH LENGTH: Medium: 58 lines
One day a year, the small dive shop on Mount Vernon Avenue turns into a Christmas wonderland, room after room filled with children, Santa Claus and $2,000 worth of raffle prizes.
It's the annual Chesapeake Bay Dive Center's Christmas party and fund-raiser, where a $1 raffle ticket can snag a winner $500 in cash or a new snorkel mask.
Proceeds from the event will be donated to The Virginian-Pilot Joy Fund to help buy toys and clothes for needy children during the holiday season.
``Our store's been such a success here, I feel we can do our share,'' said Donna Santabar, who owns the dive center with her husband, Bill.
This year's party will be Saturday at 11 a.m. The raffle will start at 1 p.m.
More than 50 prizes have been donated for this year's party by the dive center and other businesses, including discounted tickets on local dive boats and a diving computer from a manufacturer of scuba gear.
The raffle tickets cost $1 apiece, though eight can be purchased for $5. Already, more than 500 tickets have been sold.
``The tickets sell like hotcakes the day of the party,'' said Joy Evans, a sales associate at the center. ``The guys get so funny. They jump up and down to see who won. There's a lot of camaraderie.
``It's jam-packed, wall-to-wall with people.''
The center, located on the fringe of the city's historic district, seems an odd place to have a Christmas party. The aquarium filled with goldfish and the racks of black wet suits and flippers sit next to a round table with a Christmas tree and a toy wooden train.
A room decorated with poinsettias and a plastic red and green tablecloth boasts posters on gas absorption and lung expansion.
But the Santabars are pros.
This will be the eighth year they have hosted such an event for the Joy Fund. In past years they've raised between $500 and $800. They're hoping this year will break the record.
There will be barbecue and homemade Christmas cookies. Santa Claus will arrive at noon, with presents for the children.
``We want to give a little back to our customers,'' said Donna Santabar.
She said she and her husband decided to host the party the first year they opened the store.
The success has grown. Each year, the planning has taken more time. Neither Evans nor Santabar seem to mind.
``Every extra ticket we sell is more money for the kids,'' Evans said. ILLUSTRATION: Photo
MOTOYA NAKAMURA/The Virginian-Pilot
Donna Santabar, right, co-owner of Chesapeake Bay Dive Center, and
sales associate Joy Evans plan the annual Christmas party to give
something back to their customers and the community.
by CNB