Each year, the Foundation sponsors The Ruth Sokolof Christmas Party for Blind and Visually Impaired Children, with funding provided by the Karen Sokolof Javitch Charitable Trust. The party provides children with an independent holiday shopping experience and allows them to develop social skills through interactions with volunteers and mall and store employees.
In 1958, Ruth Sokolof and Bernice Wolfson helped establish the Children’s Sight Center pre-school for children with visual impairments at the Beth El Jewish Synagogue in Omaha. They began sponsoring Christmas parties in 1960 in order to give their students an opportunity to enjoy the gift of giving at Christmas time. Each of their students was given $5 and taken shopping so they could buy gifts for their family and friends.
Ruth funded the party until her death in 1982, when her husband, Phil Sokolof, continued to fund the party in Ruth’s memory. Since Phil’s death in 2004, his daughter, Karen Sokolof Javitch, has carried on the tradition. The Christmas Party and the related gift card distribution has grown from helping eight children in 1960 to assisting over 220 children in 2024.
The party is held annually on the second Sunday in December at the Westroads Mall in Omaha. The Foundation pairs each shopper with high school student volunteers, and gives each shopper $100 in gift cards to complete their shopping. The shopper and the volunteers tour the mall, purchase gifts, wrap them and enjoy lunch, all at no cost.
Any blind or visually impaired Nebraska child receiving school vision services between the ages of 5 and 18 is eligible to attend the party. The Foundation sends information regarding the party to every eligible child in its database during November of each year. If you know of an eligible child who would like to attend, please contact us so that we can include the child in our database.
The success of the party depends heavily on the efforts of volunteers. The Foundation recruits high school volunteers from Omaha metro area high school service organizations to act as “shopping buddies” for our shoppers. The party also benefit from adult volunteers who help with set-up and clean up and oversee wrapping and food service at the party. If you would like to volunteer for the party, please contact us.
Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the 2020 Christmas Party was cancelled. In lieu of the party, the Foundation sponsored a 2020 Christmas Gift Card Distribution. The Foundation distributed over 200 $100 gift cards to blind or visually impaired children throughout the State of Nebraska. Due to the success of the distribution in 2020, the Foundation has in subsequent years continued the gift card distribution for Greater Nebraska children (those who live more than a 45-minute drive from the Westroads Mall in Omaha). This permits Greater Nebraska children to participate in the spirit of the Christmas Party.
The 2024 party was held on Sunday, December 8 at the Westroads Mall in Omaha. 80 shoppers attended, assisted by 120 high school volunteers. In addition, 140 Greater Nebraska shoppers received $100 gift cards through the 2024 Greater Nebraska gift card distribution.
Local and student news coverage of the 2024 party can be viewed here, here and here. Photos from the 2024 party can be viewed here.
The Foundation expects to hold the 2025 party on Sunday, December 14 at the Westroads Mall in Omaha. You will be able to register a child for the 2025 party by completing the registration form that will be available at this page beginning November 8. The Foundation also will offer the option to receive a gift card to Greater Nebraska Children (those who live more than a forty-five minute drive from the Westroads Mall in Omaha). Those children may be registered to receive a gift card by completing the separate registration form for the Gift Card Distribution for Greater Nebraska Children below, also available November 8. Registration for both events will be open until Saturday, December 6, 2025.
A flyer describing the 2025 party and gift card distribution is available here: English version. Spanish Version.
Please complete this form to register a child for the in-person 2025 Ruth Sokolof Christmas Party for Blind and Visually Impaired Children, to be held at the Westroads Mall in Omaha on December 14, 2025 at 11:00 AM. DO NOT USE THIS FORM TO REGISTER FOR THE GREATER NEBRASKA GIFT CARD DISTRIBUTION, which is available to only to children who live more than a 45 minute drive from the Westroads Mall. A separate registration form is available below for that distribution.
Please complete this form to register a child for the 2025 Greater Nebraska Gift Card Distribution for Blind and Visually Impaired Children, sponsored by the Nebraska Foundation for Visually Impaired Children. PLEASE NOTE that distribution is available to only to children who live more than a 45 minute drive from the Westroads Mall in Omaha. Also, DO NOT USE THIS FORM TO REGISTER FOR THE RUTH SOKOLOF CHRISTMAS PARTY. A separate registration form is available above for the in-person party.