SAAB Delivers Joy Through Adopt-a-Family Program – Ohio State Buckeyes
12/11/2009 12:00:00 AM | General
Ohio State student-athletes find time to give back during exam week
COLUMBUS, Ohio – In the spirit of giving, the Ohio State Student-Athlete Advisory Board (SAAB) adopted a family in need through Volunteers of America to donate gifts to this holiday season, an event the program contributed to last year as well.
“It is awesome to know we are playing a huge part in this family’s Christmas,” Ali Ristas, a senior on the Ohio State field hockey team, said. “They are receiving things they really need like new winter coats, hats, scarves and gloves, as well as things they want.”
For a second-consecutive year, Ristas led the Ohio State effort which had one of its best turnouts with nearly all 36 sports teams working toward the common goal of giving a mother and her three children a holiday to remember.
Gift ideas for the family of four were split between the participating teams and the Buckeye student-athletes collectively fulfilled the family’s Christmas dream while having a good time.
“Each team brought in their gifts and wrapping paper to our last meeting before winter break and we made a party out of it,” Ristas said.
Tooti Snider, Athletics Academic Counselor and SAAB program director at Ohio State, and the members of the SAAB Executive Committee will be delivering the presents to the Volunteers of America Friday.
