John Theissen Children's Foundation celebrates 34 years of giving at Mulcahy's Pub

The John Theissen Children's Foundation celebrated 34 years of supporting sick and underprivileged children at its annual Holiday Gala on Dec. 4.

Held at Mulcahy's Pub and Concert Hall in Wantagh, the event featured an open bar, food, a live auction, and raffles. Attendees had the chance to win concert tickets, sports memorabilia, and other prizes.

The nonprofit, founded by Wantagh resident John Theissen, supports sick and underprivileged children across Long Island through toy drives, financial assistance, medical support, back-to-school programs, and recreational events. Theissen started the organization after surviving a brain tumor as a child and seeing firsthand the loneliness and difficulty that young patients face in hospitals.

Theissen said that the Dec. 4 Holiday Gala drew a crowd of more than 600 people — putting it on the higher end of the nonprofit’s typical turnout. “It’s our largest event of the year,” Theissen said. “We had a live auction with more than 60 items — everything from trips and memorabilia to concert tickets and unique experiences.”

Raffle prizes were also a major draw, he added, as were the special guests: former New York Giants stars Plaxico Burress and Pepper Johnson, New York Mets alum and SNY analyst Todd Zeile, and former Knicks No. 1 draft pick Larry Johnson. The evening was also attended by local civic leaders and elected officials.

The event helps support the foundation’s signature initiative: the Holiday Toy Drive, now in its 34th year. Since it kicked off on Nov. 7, more than 15,000 toys have been distributed, Theissen said — a number expected to rise above 130,000 before the drive wraps up on Dec. 23.

To learn more about the toy drive, and the foundation, head toJTCF.org.