The Coaster
Friday, January 27, 2023
No Result
View All Result
  • Browse News by Town
    • Allenhurst
    • Asbury Park
    • Avon
    • Bradley Beach
    • Deal
    • Interlaken
    • Loch Arbour
    • Long Branch
    • Neptune
    • Neptune City
    • Ocean Grove
    • Ocean Township
    • Tinton Falls
  • About Us
  • Advertise
  • Contact Us
Subscribe / Renew
  • Browse News by Town
    • Allenhurst
    • Asbury Park
    • Avon
    • Bradley Beach
    • Deal
    • Interlaken
    • Loch Arbour
    • Long Branch
    • Neptune
    • Neptune City
    • Ocean Grove
    • Ocean Township
    • Tinton Falls
  • About Us
  • Advertise
  • Contact Us
No Result
View All Result
The Coaster
No Result
View All Result
Home Asbury Park

Bar Owner Demonstrates How to ‘Keep Christmas’

by The Coaster Editorial Staff
December 14, 2017
in Asbury Park
0
VIEWS
Share on FacebookShare via EmailShare on Twitter

 

coaster-news-200-newBy JOANNE L. PAPAIANNI

The owners of a Main Street bar in Asbury Park are showing the community what it truly means in the words of Charles Dickens to “keep Christmas well.”

John McGillion, owner of Johnny Mac House of Spirits, and his wife Mary Christine are spending the weeks up until Christmas Day, not hoarding their money like Scrooge, but spending it.

And not on themselves but on the children of Asbury Park.

The largest donation the couple made was $10,000 to the Boys and Girls Club of Monmouth County’s summer program in Asbury Park.

They have also been shopping for $100 gift cards to Target and other stores, to be given to all the children at Our Lady Mt. Carmel School.

McGillion will be giving out the gift cards to the 196 students at Mt. Carmel on Friday at 11 a.m. and another 189 gift cards to the kids who attend programs at the Boys and Girls Club at 5:30 p.m.

“It’s about $53,000 all together,” McGillion said. “I just wanted to see them for Christmas, every kid likes Christmas.”

McGillion has never done anything like this in the past but said, “I had a few dollars laying around this year and I just felt like doing it – it’s exciting, it gives me a lot of pleasure.”

McGillion said school officials were very happy to see their students receive the early Christmas gift.

Mary McGillion, according to John, is the one who purchased the gift cards.

“She loves the idea,” he said.

McGillion, who purchased his bar in 2005 but did not open it until 2010, also said he gave $5200 to the nuns at Sisters Academy  a month ago.

“I did that because there are 52 girls at the school,” he said.

But when he decided to continue giving he was advised not to give cash to the children.

He said the Target gift cards were Mary’s idea because the kids would be able to choose to buy clothes or other items.

Mayor John Moor praised McGillion, who wanted to keep the donations quiet, and urged him to go public with his generosity.

Moor said he told McGillion that after all the criticism thrown his way regarding Johnny Mac, he should let the city know the good things he does.

McGillion recalled that when he first moved to Asbury Park “it was not in the best condition, it kind of excited me to do something.”

This Christmas season, that something is going to make a lot of children very happy.

Related Posts

St. Patrick’s Day Committee Names Sammy Boyd Grand Marshal

January 27, 2023
Disussions Continue to Preserve Asbury Park Historic Sites

Disussions Continue to Preserve Asbury Park Historic Sites

January 25, 2023
Developer ‘Cares Deeply About Boardwalk’ As Iconic Asbury Park Buildings Deteriorate

Developer ‘Cares Deeply About Boardwalk’ As Iconic Asbury Park Buildings Deteriorate

January 25, 2023
In Asbury Park Steps Taken to Create Citizen Review Board

City Gets Good Marks for Budgeting

January 25, 2023
St. Patrick’s Day Fundraisers in City

St. Patrick’s Day Fundraisers in City

January 24, 2023
Asbury Park’s New Athletic Director

Asbury Park’s New Athletic Director

January 18, 2023

Trending This Week

Ocean Grove Ladies Auxiliary Raised $58,000 for Projects

Pilot Parking Program is Topic Of Special Meeting in Ocean Grove

January 25, 2023
Developer ‘Cares Deeply About Boardwalk’ As Iconic Asbury Park Buildings Deteriorate

Developer ‘Cares Deeply About Boardwalk’ As Iconic Asbury Park Buildings Deteriorate

January 25, 2023
Stabbing Incident at Asbury Park High School

Red Bank Man Charged With Numerous ‘Upskirting’ Offenses

January 24, 2023
Disussions Continue to Preserve Asbury Park Historic Sites

Disussions Continue to Preserve Asbury Park Historic Sites

January 25, 2023

Advertise Online with The Coaster

Advertise on The Coaster to reach countless new customers for your local business.

START ADVERTISING TODAY

E-mail Newsletter

Sign up to get a free weekly newsletter to your inbox.

Subscribe

Contact Us

The Coaster
1011 Main St
Asbury Park, NJ 07712
Phone: 732-775-3010
FAX: 732-775-8345
editor@thecoaster.net

Email Newsletter »

All Articles

Search Our Site

No Result
View All Result

© 2023 The New Coaster, LLC. All rights reserved.

No Result
View All Result
  • Browse News by Town
    • Allenhurst
    • Asbury Park
    • Avon
    • Bradley Beach
    • Deal
    • Interlaken
    • Loch Arbour
    • Long Branch
    • Neptune
    • Neptune City
    • Ocean Grove
    • Ocean Township
    • Tinton Falls
  • About Us
  • Advertise
  • Contact Us
Subscribe / Renew

© 2023 The New Coaster, LLC. All rights reserved.