Better Together

The Community Nutcracker and Dreams Come True join forces to bring joy to the holiday season and throughout the year.

Performing annually since 1992, Community Nutcracker has evolved into a treasured holiday tradition in Northeast Florida. Over 200 local performers are involved to produce an artistic masterpiece that embodies the act of giving during the holidays, while bringing the community together in a whimsical, imaginative Christmas celebration of elegant dance and storytelling. In 2005, the Community Nutcracker was introduced to the mission of Dreams Come True and its impact on children and families. Together, both organizations had a passion to give back to the community they both were founded in and serve. Together, the goal has always been to raise funds to sponsor the dreams of local children, while also working together to promote the dedication and hard work of both organizations. Here’s how they do it.

Funds raised and donated to Dreams Come True through the production of the Community Nutcracker’s Annual Nutcracker Ballet (taking place December 13 and 14 at the Florida Theatre) are directed 100% toward the dreams of local children battling life-threatening medical conditions. For some children, a dream can be a special week visiting Disney and all the central Florida theme parks or a shopping spree in New York City, but it can also be as simple as a new furry friend. Dreams bring hope and light to families facing some of their darkest days, and can give these amazing children the strength to defy the odds. Since 2005, the Community Nutcracker has raised $435,000 for Dreams Come True, and has sponsored 96 dreams for local children battling life-threatening medical conditions. Dreams sponsored by the Community Nutcracker have included trips to Disney, Hawaii, New York City, cruises on the high seas, shopping adventures and so much more.

In addition to raising funds for local children’s dreams, the Community Nutcracker also provides a very unique experience for one special child each year and to the many children they have sponsored. Each year, one special dreamer gets to participate in the opening act at the Community Nutcracker’s Community Service Night, which is hosted on the Thursday evening of the performance week. The Dreamer gets a behind-the-scenes tour of the Florida Theatre and a special introduction to all the performers. The best moment comes when he/she appears on stage to assist Herr Stahlbaum with the narration of The Nutcracker Ballet story to the audience. In the audience at the Thursday evening Community Service Night performance are hundreds of individuals and families representing charities supported by the Community Nutcracker, including Dreams Come True. Several dream families impacted by the generosity of the Community Nutcracker get, at no cost to them, the opportunity to watch the beauty of The Nutcracker Ballet.

More than 20 men and women comprise the Community Nutcracker Board of Directors who assist in maintaining the artistic integrity and quality of performances, outreach programs, and educational efforts of the Community Nutcracker. Dreams Come True’s Senior Director of Community Service, Andrea Siracusa, hosts the board meetings at Dreams Come True to provide guidance and help with various activities in promoting the success and impact of the production. Some volunteers from the Community Nutcracker have even volunteered their time exclusively to Dreams Come True. Several members of the Community Nutcracker Board of Directors have volunteered at Dreams Come True events and even decorate for dream parties. Performers in the annual production have also found time to volunteer their talents to support children’s dreams. Some of the dancers have participated in school programs connected to Dreams Come True.

The impact of the Community Nutcracker has been greater than just fulfilling children’s dreams, but some of the dreams granted have been those of children connected to the Community Nutcracker. In 2022, one of the dream children sponsored by the Community Nutcracker was actually the sister of one of the ballet dancers. With the support of the Community Nutcracker, Dreams Come True was able to send Liliana and her family on her Disney Dream in June of 2023. One of the Dreamers was so inspired by the generosity of the Community Nutcracker, their sponsors and dancers, that she (Saddie) decided to host a Toy Drive Dream. Her dream was to collect as many toys as possible during Christmas, to ensure all the children serviced by Dreams Come True had the chance to enjoy the holiday. Her toy drive collected more than 200 toys for local families. 

The collaboration between Dreams Come True and the Community Nutcracker is focused on growing the reach and impact in northeast Florida. As the number of children serviced by Dreams Come True grows, along with the average cost of a dream, the support from community partners like the Community Nutcracker is imperative in ensuring that no eligible child is denied a dream due to financial shortfalls. But not only is the collaboration between Dreams Come True and the Community Nutcracker helping to raise funds, it is also providing local children and families the opportunity to give back through the beauty of dance. Teaching children to give back has benefits that can help shape their personal growth, values, and understanding of the world around them.

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