Stamford Policeman’s Association and Level the Playing Field Bring Christmas to Stricken

Dolan Middle School Student

Stamford Polceman’s Association volunteers and members of Stamford-based Level the Playing Field assemble outside Dolan Middle School before embarking on Christmas gift distribution.

Santa (SPA President, Dave O’Meara) sits with 12- year- old cancer patient, George Rojas

Team SPA members with Smilow Cancer patient, George Rojas

Large contingency of volunteers from Stamford-based Level the Playing Field join Stamford Policeman’s Association volunteers at Smilow Children’s Cancer Hospital in New Haven, Dec. 22, 2025

Santa Delivers Hope to Leukemia Patient at Yale New Haven’s Smilow Cancer Hospital

On Monday morning, December 22nd, Santa arrived early for a twelve-year-old boy, a patient at Smilow Cancer Hospital at Yale New Haven.

Alerted by a teacher from the Stamford, CT-based Dolan Middle School, the Stamford Policeman’s Association, along with representatives of Level the Playing Field, a Stamford-based 501 (C)(3) organization serving children with special needs and the Umbrella Club of Stamford, travelled in police cars laden with Christmas gifts, lights and sirens blaring to visit the child at the Hospital.

Earlier that morning, Santa and his helpers- Stamford Policeman’s Association President Dave O’Meara, Lt. Kevin Keegan, and officers Bob Somody and Alex Giziki, met the representatives of Stamford’s Level the Playing Field at Dolan Middle School to deliver presents to about 20 eight-grade students in the school’s special needs program. LTPF Founder Ken D’Andrea was joined by members Jenna Watts, Amy Scorziello, Scott Kelly and Jerry Famulare and their families to travel to New Haven. Before leaving, the students assembled to wish their classmate, George Rojas, a “Merry Christmas, George.”

George, a twelve-year-old eighth -grader at Dolan, has Down Syndrome and is stricken with leukemia. His mother, a widowed domestic worker, has two other children. Her 25-year-old son takes care of his 9-year- old sister while the mother remains at Smilow with her younger son. Her husband passed away 3 years ago.

The Policemen dressed up as Santa and handed out toys and gifts for the children. Level the Playing Field presented the Rojas family with a check to help the family with its mounting bills. Longtime Level the Playing Field partner, The Umbrella Club, also contributed a number of Shoprite grocery cards. The event was covered by WTNH television, New Haven.