(Photo: Students from left to right—Gregory Cordone, Jasmin Robertson, Michael DeMartino, Stephanie Constantino, Nicole Manire, Vincent Walker, Joel Almodovar, Nicholas DeGiorgio, Angel Matos, Timothy Herasimtshuk, Lucille Skroce Owner of Matisee Chocolatier, Stephen Saulpaugh, Dylan Bestler)

Stephanie Constantino and Gregory Cordone

Matisse Chocolatier will partner with Prof. Elaine Winship’s CA 213 Public Relations students for the “#GivingTuesday Event at Matisse Chocolatier” on December 1st from 2:00-4:30pm. The event will be held at Matisse’s Orangetown Shopping Center location (across from CVS), which will be transformed into a winter wonderland to capture the giving spirit of the season. Event proceeds will benefit Saint Jude’s Children’s Hospital.

#GivingTuesday is held annually on the Tuesday after Thanksgiving (in the U.S.) and the widely recognized shopping events Black Friday and Cyber Monday to kick-off the holiday giving season and inspire people to collaborate in improving their local communities and to give back in impactful ways to the charities and causes they support.

Frozen’s Elsa will be on site from 3:30-4:30, helping Matisse foster a cycle of giving, by presenting every visiting child with two chocolate pretzel rods—one to enjoy and one to give away. Customers who place an order or leave a donation will be entered into a raffle to win a #GivingTuesday chocolate platter. “My hope is that this event will inspire others to embrace the season of giving,” says owner Lucille Skroce. “#GivingTuesday is an amazing movement, and I am honored to be a part of it by helping the students at STAC, giving back to my customers with a fun holiday event, and donating to St. Jude’s and local hospitals.” Matisse will donate all raffle proceeds, plus a percentage of profits from all chocolate platter orders and purchases, to St. Jude’s. Following the event, Lucille will deliver chocolate platters to Nyack Hospital and Rockland Psychiatric Center.

CA 213 students have been working with Matisse Chocolatier all semester, developing an extensive Public Relations Plan and bridging the gap between the classroom and the real world. The #GivingTuesday event represents the culmination of their efforts. “This project has been challenging, but the reward will be to see this event come together,” admits CA major Nicholas DeGiorgio. “Lucille embodies giving. She’s allowing us to practice PR and event planning, providing invaluable experiences, and in turn we want to help make her #GivingTuesday event a huge success.”

Students are sending news releases and pitch letters to various media outlets and bloggers to promote the event. “I pitched the blogger “Rockland 411” and they ran the story!” says CA major Timothy Herasimtschuk. “It’s rewarding to use the skills from class and apply them to a real client!” Students have also garnered PR from Nyack Hospital, The Rockland County Times, and Patch.com.

The entire STAC family is invited to support #GivingTuesday with Matisse. In addition to the raffle, there will be contests and various activities for children. STAC students can receive $2.00 off a half pound of chocolate (must show school ID)—sweet savings for a sweet cause!