MIAMI, November 23 — The Miami HEAT along with American Airlines will be working together to collect “Gifts for Soldiers” this holiday season. Fans attending games on December 9th at AmericanAirlines Arena are encouraged to donate new, unwrapped items for delivery to soldiers at Landstuhl Regional Medical Center in Germany, the largest American hospital outside the United States. Donations will be collected at the AmericanAirlines Arena on Friday, December 9, during the HEAT-Denver Nuggets match-up. People not attending the HEAT game this day are encouraged to bring their donation to the Northwest corner of the Arena (Biscayne Blvd. and NE 8th Street) from 11:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. on Friday, December 9.

“The employees of the Miami HEAT and AmericanAirlines Arena are very proud of the sacrifices being made by our servicemen and women overseas,” said Eric Woolworth, HEAT President of Business Operations. “We’re happy to participate in the ‘Gifts for Soldiers’ program and look to do whatever we can to encourage our soldiers and their families, especially during the holiday season.”

Donated items will be shipped to Germany in mid-December by American Airlines Cargo with the assistance of volunteers from Airline Ambassadors, an organization that assists people around the world. The Miami HEAT Dancers and Burnie the HEAT Mascot, along with performers from the USO, the Mavs Dancers and the Stars Ice Girls, will help deliver the gifts to the servicemen and women at Landstuhl Regional Medical Center. In addition, American Airlines is also teaming with the Dallas Mavericks and Dallas Stars for the “Gift for Soldiers” holiday donation drive.

“Gifts for Soldiers’ is a wonderful opportunity for all of us to honor and recognize these men and women who have sacrificed so much for our country,” said Dan Garton, American’s Executive Vice President-Marketing. “During the holiday season, especially, when many of these soldiers cannot be with family and friends, this program is one way to send these patriots our thanks and good wishes.” Items requested for donation are listed below. Please note that items will need to be small enough to fit in a backpack and should be for male and female soldiers. Items should also be new and unwrapped.

• T-shirts
• Baseball caps – sports teams and novelties
• CDs - music of all types
• CD players
• Batteries
• Jogging and sweats outfits
• White socks
• Shoe inserts
• International telephone calling cards
• Small hand-held or board games [e.g., Game Boys, chess, checkers ]
• Stationery supplies (e.g., pens, writing paper, envelopes)
• Holiday candy
• Beef jerky
• Chewing gum
• Lip balm