About The Cause

A Family Party In 1932, three children of a Washington area family wandered away on Christmas morning. Their trip took them to the steps of the Saint Anne’s Infant Asylum, where they each deposited one of the gifts that they had received on Christmas morning. Whether their spirit of sharing was prompted by a precocious understanding of life’s inequalities or was merely a spontaneous gesture common to many children is not important. From that small beginning arose a Christmas event unique in our city, and perhaps to our country. This year my friends and family will gather together again in the spirit of Christmas, to continue a family tradition to help bring some joy into the lives of children less fortunate than ourselves. The occasion was referred to as the “Bowers Family Christmas Party”.

I have taken the liberty of renaming the party after its creator the “Gay Bowers Memorial Christmas Party”. In the beginning the party was prompted by the gesture of the three children referred to above, who are my mother, Barbara Bowers Cantrell, and her two sisters, Celeste and Billy. The party originally took the form of an invitation to friends and family to celebrate the Christmas holiday in the Bowers’ home. The ticket of admission to a pleasant evening was a gift for a child who otherwise might go without on Christmas morning. As the years went by, more and more friends heard of the family’s gathering and wanted to attend. Before long, my grandmother’s home was inadequate to contain the numbers who arrived bearing gifts, and the party was moved to larger facilities donated for the party.

In 1954, 1,500 people jammed the ballroom of the Willard Hotel. Each of them brought a gift for a child, and as a result of the party and everyone’s generosity, hundreds of children found joy on Christmas morning. On Christmas Eve morning, the presents were distributed to needy children in the area. As it increased in size, the Bowers family was still the moving force behind the party, but enlisted the help of distinguished civic and fraternal organizations, businesses and individuals to support the event. All of the organizations donated space, time, money, and individual and business skills to the organization for the good of the party, and ultimately for the benefit of needy children. Even radio and television stars gave their time and talents to entertain, at no cost to the Christmas party. In 1970, the last “Bowers Family Christmas Party” was held. The event had taken on a life of its own, and was unable to be managed by my grandmother and other family members.

In 1994 a new life was given to this wonderful idea established by my grandmother and her family. My hope that the party would again become an annual event has been realized, and your cooperation and donations will insure its continued success and longevity. Through everyone’s kindness and generosity, the spirit of Christmas will continue to fill the lives of area children. Your help is greatly appreciated.