NFL Players 'Giving Back' At Christmas

[SeaBreeze]

This isn't the first story I've heard recently of NFL players buying and donating toys to children for the Christmas season. Kudos to Andre Johnson here! :christmas2:
http://espn.go.com/blog/nflnation/p...26-worth-of-toys-for-local-kids?ex_cid=espnFB

HOUSTON -- The credit card company flagged the purchase as a fraud, so Andre Johnson had to call them to say, yes, he was actually running one transaction at Toy 'R' Us for more than $5,000. And that wasn't going to be the last of it.

It's become an annual holiday tradition for Johnson. Each year since 2007, the Houston Texans receiver hosts a shopping spree for local kids. This year, 11 children in the care of Child Protective Services got 80 seconds (and the help of Texans cheerleaders) to stuff a shopping cart full of whatever they could.

The four registers that rang up their wares reached $16,266.26 of stuffed animals, DVDs, video games and toys.

"I just enjoy doing it," Johnson said. "... I always felt like if I was ever to make it, I wanted to give back. You go through stuff as a kid growing up. You understand certain situations. I understand some of the things these kids go through."

 

[SeaBreeze]

Sixth annual 'shop with a Bronco' event for the children...http://www.denverbroncos.com/news-a...a-Bronco/21e57296-4df1-435a-b074-f3779bd706bc

LONE TREE, Colo. --Christmas came early for 42 kids from the Boys and Girls Clubs of Metro Denver as part of the sixth annual "Shop with a Bronco" on Tuesday night.

Chosen from 14 different branches of Boys and Girls Clubs based on leadership and academics, kids went on a shopping spree at the Park Meadows location of Sports Authority with 15 Broncos players, including Bradley Roby, Sylvester Williams, Lamin Barrow andMontee Ball.

The store was closed to the public and each child was given a $125 gift card, along with a 20 percent discount at checkout.
"This is something very near and dear to both the Broncos and Sports Authority," said Mike Foss, the CEO of Sports Authority. "We’re just pleased about the passion the Broncos players are showing behind this.

"It means so much to the kids. The gift cards and all that is fun, but what they’ll remember is walking around with the Broncos talking to them, helping them pick out gifts. It’s the most special part of the whole event."

 

[AprilT]

Nice :thumbsup1:

 

[SeaBreeze]

Broncos and player Ryan Clady give children and their families a shopping spree at Target for Christmas...http://www.9news.com/story/news/loc...-give-kids-christmas-shopping-spree/20521269/

KUSA - Ten kids and four families went Christmas shopping in Littleton with members of the Broncos Tuesday night.It's the 7th year in a row that the Sharon Kemp Clady Foundation has allowed less fortunate kids and families to go on a shopping spree.

The kids were given $350 each - $750 for the families - to buy anything they wanted at Target.

Ryan Clady started the foundation to honor his late mother. He says he grew up watching how her generosity changed lives.

Clady says this year he chose members of the Shilioh House for the event. It's an organization that offers shelter and services to abused and neglected youth.

 

[SeaBreeze]

Oakland Raider's Menelik Watson Gives His Paycheck to Little Girl With Heart Condition

Oakland Raiders helping this little girl and her family, Menelik Watson donated his paycheck...http://www.goodnewsnetwork.org/oakland-nfl-player-gives-paycheck-4-year-old-heart-condition/

The NFL Oakland Raiders team recently hooked up Ava Urrea—a four-year-old with a heart condition—with a lot of gifts that made her very happy. But, the team’s second-year offensive lineman, Menelik Watson, decided to take things one step further to help out the girl and her family.

In the spirit of the holidays, Watson donated an entire week’s salary to Ava’s family. BleacherReport.com reported that the check was likely in the $18,000 range.
“Athletes like Watson don’t do this for the attention, but they do deserve praise for trying to make a difference.”