It was the first time on the ice for many of the children who came out to the downtown Winter Ice Rink for a special skate night Dec. 4.
The Rotary Club of Sunnyvale hosted the event for 100 children who benefit from Sunnyvale Community Services. These children got to skate at Sunnyvale’s inaugural ice rink free of charge.
“I wanted to create an event that would allow struggling families or those families in need share a night of fun and laughter during the holiday season,” said Sunnyvale Rotary President Rebecca Buldo.
Rotary partnered with Specialty Solid Waste and Recycling, Edward Jones Investments for the event. Commercial real estate brokerage firm Newmark Knight Frank donated $25 gift cards for every child who put on skates that night, delivered by Santa himself.
Located in Redwood Square, the Winter Ice Rink is hosted by the developers behind CityLine Sunnyvale, under construction on the former site of the Sunnyvale Town Center. Other special events at the rink include curling lessons and skating with San Jose Sharks mascot SJ Sharkie.
The Winter Ice Rink will be open through Jan. 20 at Redwood Square, 250 S. Murphy Ave. Hours are 11 a.m.-10:30 p.m. during school holidays and 1-9:30 p.m. when school is in session. Tickets are $13-$18 and include skate rental. They can be purchased at the rink ticket window at Murphy and McKinley avenues, or in advance at http://www.citylinesunnyvale.com/IceRink.