Thursday, December 06, 2007

, Tenn. (Dec. 6, 2007) - The ETSU athletic department held a special Christmas celebration for children from the local area Thursday at the Memorial Center.

This year 48 kids from the Johnson City area attended the Buccaneer Christmas. The gifts for this year's Buccaneer Christmas were donated by Clarence Mabe from S&M Entertainment. The kids who participated got to meet Santa, and were surprised with a stocking full of gifts from ETSU athletes. 

"A Buccaneer Christmas is a joint effort within ETSU Athletes of the Alcohol Awareness Task Force (AATF), The Student Advisory Committee (SAAC) and our Community Service Program," said Associate Athletic Director Barbie Breedlove. "This is an event our coaches, student athletes, and staff look forward to each year because it is a great way to connect to children and to give back to our community."

            Breedlove along with strength and conditioning head coach Lee Morrow and director of sports medicine/head athletic trainer Brian Johnston worked to put on this event. Players from volleyball, softball, baseball, track and field, men's basketball, women's soccer and the ETSU cheerleaders helped to make the event a success.

"To me, it's real simple," Morrow said. "The most rewarding thing is when I see young ones get a gift. Hopefully for the athletes, this will be a time they will not forget, seeing the joy and emotion on the kid's faces when they receive their gift.  Barbie and Brian do a great job and are part of the reason why Buc Christmas was successful this year."

An event like this one gives the ETSU Athletic Department a chance to give back to the community. The ETSU Athletic department prides itself on being able to create a family-like environment.

             "We are very blessed and feel fortunate to be able to give back in a very small way," Breedlove said.    "From ETSU Athletics, we would like to wish everyone a merry Christmas and happy holidays."