MAKING SPIRITS BRIGHT
Boston-area pro athletes work overtime for local kids
Part of the beauty of Boston sports is that our teams do well in their respective games — but do even better within our community. Over the past week alone, a slew of our athletes have made us proud by embracing the spirit of giving, and we have a heart-warming recap of the good deeds they did:
•The entire Bruins roster traded in their sticks for shopping carts, cramming them with toys during their annual holiday spree. The team skated through Walmart in Saugus on Friday, when they stormed the check-out lines with loads of goodies they purchased using donations from the players themselves and the Boston Bruins Foundation. Ultimately, their holiday haul will be given to hundreds of children undergoing in-patient care at local hospitals. All of the athletes are planning to huddle up once again on Wednesday, when they’re expected to hand-deliver the gifts to more than 600 kids who won’t be able to celebrate the holidays at their homes this year. As fans may remember, the Bruins’ Santa service is a long-standing tradition, which started with Hall of Famer Ray Bourque back when he was captain. Through the years, the custom has been passed down, with alternate captain Patrice Bergeron taking the reins and keeping it alive since 2010.
•Celtics players and coaches scored some major points with the kids at Boston Children’s Hospital during their yearly yuletide visit on Tuesday afternoon. Gordon Hayward, Al Horford, Kyrie Irving, Marcus Morris, Daniel Theis Brad Wanamaker Guerschon Yabusele —,brought Brad the Stevens, festive and fun — accompanied by their head coach, and assistant coach, Jay Larranaga to the kiddies currently being treated at the Fenwayarea facility. During their visit, the basketball players all sat down to help the kids craft their own winter-patterned fleece pillows, led the little ones in a carol singalong and provided bedside entertainment to pediatric patients who were unable to take part in the group festivities. The C’s stop at Boston Children’s is yet another act of kindness scheduled into the Boston Celtics Shamrock Foundation’s Season of Giving, which also had Terry Rozier and Jayson Tatum hosting a holiday shopping adventure for a separate set of local kids at the Target in Watertown earlier in the week.
•Patriots player Joe Cardona paid his respects to local military families this week, when he was spotted in the crowd at the Massachusetts Gold Star Family Tree Dedication. During the ceremony, which took place at the State House, the long-snapper was seen getting to know the deserving people present — and that includes 10-yearold Jordan Marden of Randolph, whose father, Afghanistan veteran Jason Marden, passed away earlier this year after a long struggle with PTSD. The event was also attended by Gov. Charlie Baker, first lady Lauren Baker and Lt. Gov. Karyn Polito, and it was organized by Military Friends Foundation, a nonprofit whose efforts support Massachusetts Military Families and Families of the Fallen.