Athletes around the sports world are getting into the holiday spirit by helping out around their communities to impact the lives of those less fortunate. Raiders DT DAN WILLIAMS on Tuesday "teamed up with the Boys and Girls Clubs of Oakland to make the holidays a little brighter for those in need." Fifteen families were selected to participate with Williams' "Filling the Gap" foundation (EAST BAY TIMES, 12/22)....Raptors G KYLE LOWRY yesterday treated Toronto-area children to a Toys R Us "shopping spree as part of his annual holiday celebration" (TORONTO STAR, 12/22). ...NASCAR driver MARTIN TRUEX JR. delivered "lots of toys to children" at Levine Children's Hospital in Charlotte (FOXSPORTS.com, 12/21)....Former NFLer ARIAN FOSTER teamed up with rapper PAUL WALL yesterday for a "holiday toy drive" at IX Innovations in Houston (HOUSTON CHRONICLE, 12/22)....Redskins OT TY NSEKHE on Tuesday went Christmas shopping for DAE'ANNA REYNOLDS, the daughter of PHILANDO CASTILE's girlfriend. Castile was shot and killed by police in a traffic stop earlier this year (WASHINGTON POST, 12/22).
PAYING BACK: Warriors G STEPHEN CURRY is auctioning off two pairs of shoes to "raise money for Oakland's Ghost Ship fire victims." The shoes "each surpassed $10,000 on eBay." With nine days left on the auctions, "154 bids have been placed on the custom sneakers donned during warmups and a game last Thursday." The shoes are "inscribed with the words 'Ghost Ship' and 'Oakland Strong' along with 'Always Remember' and the initials of the fire victims" (SAN JOSE MERCURY NEWS, 12/22)....Steelers WR ANTONIO BROWN "wrote a check for $100,000 to Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh." The hospital was "involved in Brown's charity softball game over the summer." Brown yesterday said he "just wanted to give back" around Christmas (ESPN.com, 12/21).
GARDEN PARTY: Madison Square Garden today will become the latest N.Y.-area sports organization to partner with Hackensack Univ. Medical Center in its Tackle Kids Cancer initiative to benefit families with children suffering from pediatric cancer. The partnership will kick off tonight when the Knicks host the Magic, with two children from the Tackle Kids Cancer program serving as honorary ball kids. Future activations of the partnership will aim to create unique experiences for children based around MSG properties like the Knicks, WNBA Liberty and Radio City Music Hall, while also raising funds and awareness. In addition to MSG, Tackle Kids Cancer counts the Giants and Red Bulls as partners. Giants QB ELI MANNING and Red Bulls G LUIS ROBLES are involved on an individual level. TKC is also the official charity sponsor of the PGA Tour Northern Trust Open. Bendigo Co., founded by industry veteran JEFF SOFKA, is HackensackUMC's agency for marketing partnerships (Alex Silverman, Staff Writer).
