The UC San Diego Department of Intercollegiate Athletics has already made it a holiday to remember for local families. Through the Adopt-a-Family event, organized by the Triton Athletes’ Council (TAC), all 23 Triton teams and the department staff were able to give back.
In pairs, the Tritons teamed up to help 12 families in need. The pairs raised money from their teams, shopped for holiday gifts for their families, and wrapped their presents. On Saturday morning, more than 70 athletes from the teams came to the Neighborhood House Association to distribute the gifts to their families. Santa even made an appearance, spreading cheer to the children as they received their presents.
TAC’s Community Service Chair, Claudia Cox of the track and field team, felt that the event was a success.
“All of the teams did an awesome job getting their gifts,” Cox said. “Adopt-a-Family is one of my favorite community service events of the year because we have a direct impact on a family’s holiday season and it’s great to see all of the teams get together to do this.”
Cox believes that the opportunity to give the gifts to the families is a highlight of the event for the Triton student-athletes.
“I think that the athletes really enjoy the gift reveal because we get to see how much of an impact we have on these families, and it feels really great to be the cause of smiles on people’s faces,” Cox said. “I think that everyone enjoys seeing the reactions on the little kids’ faces when they open their gifts!”