On Monday, Dec. 17, the San Francisco 49ers spent a very busy day bringing good tidings and cheer to those in the community during the holiday season.
The day began at Good Samaritan Hospital with the annual tradition of the Linebackers Toy Giveaway, in which the linebackers, led by Joe Staley, distributed toys to children and their families who will be in the hospital for the holidays. The patients included those in treatment, as well as preemies and newborns in the NICU.
"This is truly a blessing to be able to come here to the hospital to see these kids because lot of them will be here throughout the holidays and won't be fortunate enough to be able to spend Christmas outside of the hospital," said Patrick Willis. "Being able to get the linebackers together and continue to do something that Takeo Spikes started when he first got here really means a lot to me to make sure we continue to keep the tradition going. It's been two years now that I've been doing it without him and it's felt pretty good. Our linebackers have done a great job."
The players walked room to room and handed out presents for each of the families. Throughout the visit, the players brought smiles to the children and their families' faces by handing out gifts, making them laugh, and simply just spending a few minutes of their day with them.
"It's that time of the year. It's the time of giving," 49ers LB Parys Haralson said. "It's a good thing whenever we can come and bring joy to some of the patients who will be spending Christmas or New Year's here away from their family. They also bring joy to us because we enjoy doing it and have a good time doing this. It's fun coming here and interacting with them and talking with them knowing you're doing something great and have a good feeling about doing it."
Meanwhile, in Palo Alto, 49ers QB Scott Tolzien made a visit to the Ronald McDonald House at Stanford. While 49ers family members, alumni and front office were busy at the Santa's Workshop event at the Georgia Travis Center in San Jose, the 49ers offensive line also held a toy giveaway.
Later that afternoon, 49ers CB Tarell Brown hosted a Teens Day of Christmas for 25 high school teenagers from Fresh Lifelines for Youth (FLY). Brown hosted the teens at a pizza party followed by a shopping spree at Sports Authority.
"The kids enjoyed themselves," said Brown. "We had an opportunity to talk to each other and just embrace each other, as they got to know me and I got to know them. I think the biggest thing is I was in their shoes a few years ago. I had the same struggles they had as a young adult growing up in this day and age. Anytime you can have someone older, or who has been through the same situations these kids have been through where you can relate, it's a positive thing."
The day of giving ended with a toys for tots drive and raffle fundraiser with The Marine Foundation led by 49ers LB Darius Fleming.
Special thanks to San Jose's Annual Christmas in the Park, as they provided some of the goodies for the day's wonderful events.
