IU Athletics' Angel Tree Holiday Tradition Continues
12/17/2020 9:00:00 AM | Student-Athlete Services
Bloomington, Indiana – One of IU Athletics' most important holiday traditions is continuing in 2020.
Last week, IU Athletics' student-athletes donated gifts for 21 area children as part of the Salvation Army of Central Indiana's Angel Tree Program. The Angel Tree program provides an opportunity for local community members and businesses to assist area families who are in need of help in putting gifts under the tree during the holiday season.
IU Athletics' involvement and support of the program is spearheaded by the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) and is coordinated by the IU Excellence Academy staff. The Salvation Army of Central Indiana's Angel Tree program debuted locally in 2015, and its assistance to area families and community members during the holiday season goes back generations.
"I am so glad the athletic community had the opportunity to participate in such a great and rewarding cause," said IU Swimming and Diving's Josie Grote, a SAAC Executive Board member who overseas community outreach efforts. "I know as an athlete, I look forward to the holidays as a much-needed break since this is when our training really ramps up. I am so glad that we can create other special memories for children to look forward to at this time of the year. With this year being especially hard due to Covid-19, it was really awesome to see almost all of the teams at IU participate in the Angel Tree program."
Junior Jonathan Moran, IU Wrestling's representative on SAAC, was another one of IU's student-athletes heavily involved in coordinating the department's involvement this holiday season.
"The Angel Tree program is one of my favorite programs that IU Athletics participates in," Moran said. "When I told my teammates about the opportunity to give back to the local community, they jumped on it. I think that says a lot about the leadership within our program; our coaches are just as focused on making us great men as they are making us great wrestlers.
"Doing things like this has always been important to me, and I will continue to participate in such activities as long as I am in a position to do so. I believe when we are more fortunate than others we should build a longer table, not a taller fence. I know I would not be in the position I am today without the help of others, so this is my way of saying thank you."
Last week, IU Athletics' student-athletes donated gifts for 21 area children as part of the Salvation Army of Central Indiana's Angel Tree Program. The Angel Tree program provides an opportunity for local community members and businesses to assist area families who are in need of help in putting gifts under the tree during the holiday season.
IU Athletics' involvement and support of the program is spearheaded by the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) and is coordinated by the IU Excellence Academy staff. The Salvation Army of Central Indiana's Angel Tree program debuted locally in 2015, and its assistance to area families and community members during the holiday season goes back generations.
"I am so glad the athletic community had the opportunity to participate in such a great and rewarding cause," said IU Swimming and Diving's Josie Grote, a SAAC Executive Board member who overseas community outreach efforts. "I know as an athlete, I look forward to the holidays as a much-needed break since this is when our training really ramps up. I am so glad that we can create other special memories for children to look forward to at this time of the year. With this year being especially hard due to Covid-19, it was really awesome to see almost all of the teams at IU participate in the Angel Tree program."
Junior Jonathan Moran, IU Wrestling's representative on SAAC, was another one of IU's student-athletes heavily involved in coordinating the department's involvement this holiday season.
"The Angel Tree program is one of my favorite programs that IU Athletics participates in," Moran said. "When I told my teammates about the opportunity to give back to the local community, they jumped on it. I think that says a lot about the leadership within our program; our coaches are just as focused on making us great men as they are making us great wrestlers.
"Doing things like this has always been important to me, and I will continue to participate in such activities as long as I am in a position to do so. I believe when we are more fortunate than others we should build a longer table, not a taller fence. I know I would not be in the position I am today without the help of others, so this is my way of saying thank you."
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