Bobcats Host Holiday Party For Kids
By Malinda Murray
December 11, 2007
Giving is what makes the holidays special, and on Tuesday night, the Charlotte Bobcats made this holiday season memorable for more than 275 children as they hosted their Annual Holiday Party for Kids at the Extravaganza Depot.
With Christmas music echoing through the room and brightly colored decorations adorning every wall, it was the perfect setting for the children to celebrate the holidays with their favorite Bobcats players.
The party was not only a celebration, but an opportunity to help those less fortunate. To gain admission to the party, each child in attendance was asked to bring an unwrapped toy. These hundreds of toys will be donated to the Salvation Army Women’s and Children’s Shelter to help those in need.
Eight-year old Iyanna Franklin was excited to meet the Bobcats, but she also understood the importance of her donation, “I knew it was for some kids that needed toys and I just figured that I should give it to them,” she remarked as she arrived and waited for the party to get underway.
She wasn’t the only child looking forward to meeting their favorite player. Nine-year old Darius Burley was all smiles as he waited to see Gerald Wallace, Raymond Felton and Emeka Okafor.
While they waited for the players to arrive, the children had the opportunity to eat pizza, shoot hoops, play beanbag toss and miniature golf, get their faces painted and watch the balloon artist. The wait wasn’t long though, as the Bobcats players were soon introduced amidst the excited screams and shouts of hundreds of children.
Once introductions were complete, the Bobcats players joined the kids at their tables to decorate Christmas cookies. Throughout the room, Bobcats players could be seen squirting icing and adding sprinkles to make cookies that were delicious works of art.
Nine-year-old Jonathan Morrison loved having Okafor sit at his table and help him make his cookie. “It’s very fun!” he exclaimed. “It’s cool. All the cookies are awesome. I love it – especially Emeka Okafor and Gerald Wallace.”
In addition to making cookies, the kids had the opportunity to get autographs and participate in a question-and-answer session with the players. They also each received a commemorative Bobcats holiday pennant to remember the evening.
The players seemed to enjoy every moment as much as the kids, laughing and joking as they interacted with the children.
“I had a blast,” remarked Bobcats rookie Jared Dudley. “I was out there dancing a little bit, making some cookies and just clowning around. That’s what I’m all about. I’m just glad to be here.
“My favorite part was interacting with the kids and making cookies with them. They want autographs from everybody. They don’t care who you are. It’s just nice. I’m around adults all day, and to see these little kids made me happy.”
“It was a great night,” added Wallace. “It was nice to come out and interact with our younger fans.”
The Bobcats understand how important it is to hold events like these that touch the lives of children in the community.
“It’s very important because kids are our future and we want to keep them positive and headed in the right direction,” said Wallace.
“It’s just good to get out and let them see you and touch you,” remarked Othella Harrington. “You never know what kind of influence you can have on a kid.”
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