FIRST-EVER "SHOP WITH THE RAMS" GOES OFF AS A BIG SUCCESS
RICHMOND, Va. (Dec. 6, 2010) - The college
basketball season lasts five months. Throughout that stretch, teams are pushed
to the limit and go through a wide range of emotions.
That's a big reason why the Virginia Commonwealth University
men's basketball program enjoyed Sunday afternoon so much as the Black &
Gold enjoyed the first-ever "Shop with the Rams" at Target at Libbie
Place.
Members of the VCU basketball program joined 24 children
from the Boys & Girls Club of Richmond to enjoy an afternoon of spreading
the holiday cheer.
"During the season, it's easy to get stressed out with
the rigors we all go through," senior point guard Joey
Rodriguez said. "For us to come out and do something like this
as the VCU basketball family, it really makes us appreciate how blessed we are.
It's great to spend time with these kids, they're awesome."
The day began as Head Coach Shaka Smart picked up the group
at the Boys & Girls Club and gave them an exclusive tour of the Verizon
Wireless Arena at the Stuart C. Siegel Center.
While the children toured the Rams' home, the team assembled
at Target and greeted the group with a red carpet entrance. Each child was
paired with a member of the VCU basketball family and given a $100 gift card.
"This is just a terrific opportunity for us as the VCU
basketball family to give back to the community that really supports us so
much," Smart said. "It's really a special, special day for us."
After getting basketball, skateboards, clothes, video games,
Barbies, NERF guns and much much more, the children sat down to enjoy some food
and good times with the Black & Gold.
A dance contest between freshman Rob
Brandenberg and one of the kids capped off a great day with lots of
laughs.