Updated posts 2026
In her cherished tradition, Jacqueline Weld Drake opened her Park Avenue residence to welcome the children’s choir from the Casita Maria Center for Arts & Education. With the students elegantly dressed, the anticipation of meeting “Miss Jackie” was met with the delight of discovering presents awaiting them under her beautifully adorned Christmas tree. A festive evening unfolded, complete with a splendid dinner and a heartwarming performance by the choir.
The children sang classic tunes like Jingle Bells, Silent Night, and We Wish You A Merry Christmas, adding an extra touch of joy with a spirited rendition of Feliz Navidad. A new anthem, Casita María Está de Fiesta, resonated through the celebration. Jacqueline, the gracious hostess, remarked, “This is what Christmas is all about,” expressing her pride in an evening that exemplifies the true spirit of the season.
Felix Urrutia, the new Executive Director of Casita Maria, emphasized the organization’s heightened importance post-Covid. In the Bronx, where the center is located in the country’s poorest zip code, the mission to provide quality arts education remains vital. Urrutia stressed the significance of their work in supporting and guiding students toward success, highlighting the enduring importance of their mission.
Music programs are often the first casualty when school budgets tighten, which places organizations like Casita Maria in a role that extends well beyond enrichment. Choral training builds skills that transfer readily into a classroom: listening carefully, holding a part while others hold theirs, preparing for a performance with a fixed date. For students whose schools have little room for the arts, an after-school choir may be the only place those habits are taught at all.
During the event, the annual William E. Simon Scholarship was presented, recognizing academic excellence in a New York Roman Catholic High School. The deserving recipient, Jorge Gabriel Neira Jr., accepted the award with his mother Maria Jose Chusan-Neira and sister by his side. Aspiring to become a doctor, Jorge represents the promising future fostered by Casita Maria’s commitment to education and community support.
Distinguished guests, including board members Martha Bograd, George Corton, and Sissi Fleitas, along with Steven Aronson, Beth Rudin DeWoody, Mercedes Levin, Alicia Lubowski-Jahn, Liz and Jeff Peek, Marc Rosen, and Sabrina Wirth, attended the event. Casita Maria Center for Arts & Education, the oldest Latin charity in New York City, stands as a beacon of hope, providing high-quality arts education to over 1,000 students daily, creating a safe and nurturing environment that enriches the lives of youth and families in the South Bronx.
