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'Tis the Season of Giving: 49ers Host Annual 'Hope for the Holidays' Event 🎄

Snow fell from the sky at Levi's® Stadium on Wednesday night, not from clouds, but from snow machines that transformed the concourse into a festive holiday marketplace. The San Francisco 49ers welcomed more than 40 families to their annual "Hope for the Holidays" event presented by U.S. Bank, creating an evening filled with music, decorations, player interactions, and holiday cheer.

The holiday market-style event brought together families from seven nonprofit organizations, giving them the opportunity to receive essential resources while connecting with players and 49ers volunteers throughout the evening.

Each family was paired with a player serving as a "spirit guide" and escorted through a series of tents where food, household items, shoes, backpacks, blankets, and toys were distributed. Red wagons quickly filled as families made their way through the market, with Squishmallows emerging as one of the hottest commodities for the kids that evening.

Sourdough Sam added to the festivities, greeting families alongside players and their loved ones. Players signed jerseys and memorabilia, posed for photos, and sang along to holiday music echoing throughout the concourse.

Santa also made an appearance with a 49ers twist. As one young girl shouted, "Santa!" she ran into the arms of TE George Kittle wearing a Santa hat and camo sweatsuit, drawing smiles and laughter from families and teammates.

For rookie DL C.J. West, the event marked his first time participating in "Hope for the Holidays," and it left a lasting impression.

"This event is huge because the holidays are such a big time to spend with family," West said. "Being able to give back to families who may need a little extra support… it just warms my heart."

LB Curtis Robinson, the team's Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year nominee, also took part in the evening, emphasizing the importance of giving back during the holiday season.

"It's a really special event for me," Robinson said. "I understand how hard circumstances can be, so giving families this opportunity to meet players and go home with fresh food and gifts for their kids means a lot."

Robinson added that his WPMOY nomination has further highlighted the responsibility players have within the community.

"I've learned how big of an impact we (players) can have," he said. "We're blessed with resources, and being able to share that is really important to our supporters that make up the Bay Area."

By the end of the night, the 49ers had donated over 80 boxes of groceries from Second Harvest Food Bank, more than fourty $500 Safeway gift cards, clothes, toys, household items, and a plentiful supply of holiday dinner foods and ingredients, generously provided by Lexus, Dignity Health, Levi's®, Shoe Palace, Zenni, and Peet's Coffee.

With falling snow, smiling faces, and red wagons full of gifts, the 49ers once again turned Levi's® Stadium into a place of joy, reminding families that the holiday season is about connection, celebration, and hope.

San Francisco 49ers staff, players and their families came together to share the holiday spirit, supporting 175 underserved families at a drive-through distribution in the Levi's® Stadium parking lot, presented by U.S. Bank.

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