BULLS NEWS

BUFFALO, NY - Each year the Gloria J. Parks Community Center seeks contributions and donations for its annual Holiday Basket Drive and Sponsored Family programs, and for the sixth straight year, the University at Buffalo's Division of Athletics has heeded the call.

Dawn Reed, the Director of Women's Marketing and Special Projects at UB, has been working hand-in-hand with Sonya Wilkins, a volunteer coordinator at the community center, in making this year's holiday giving program a success. This year UB Athletics is involved in both the Holiday Basket Drive and the Sponsor a Family projects. The Division of Athletics has sponsored a family of seven, including a mother and six children, the children ranging in age from newborn to 13 years of age.

On Friday, December 17th at 10 am, select coaches and staff from the Division of Athletics will be in attendance to present the gracious amount of food and clothing that has been donated by members of the Division to the community center. All of the food items that UB donates to the community center will be made into 90 food baskets that will provide a traditional holiday meal to needy local families and senior citizens. In addition, over $750 dollars worth of clothes and toys will be presented to the Division of Athletics' sponsored family.

"We had a record-breaking level of support this year from the Division of Athletics," said Reed. "Through the compassion of so many in the Division of Athletics, we hope that we will be able to add some joy to those less fortunate in the Western New York area during the holiday season.

For more information on the Gloria J. Parks Holiday Community Center and its holiday giving program, feel free to call (716) 832-1010. The center is located at 3242 Main Street in Buffalo.

--Written by Jillian Czyz, Athletic Communications intern