BGSU Men’s Basketball Teams Up with Wood/Erie County Sheriffs for Christmas Spectacular
Fri, Dec, 15 | Men's Basketball
BOWLING GREEN, Ohio – The Bowling Green men's basketball team is partnering with the Sheriff departments of Wood County and Erie County for the 2023 BGSU Men's Basketball Christmas Spectacular Initiative, an event that brings a holiday celebration to families in the community who might not otherwise have one.
This project aims to reach out to those in our community who have faced unimaginable tragedies this year, whether it be the loss of a child, a devastating accident robbing a family of a parent, or the challenges faced by incarcerated single mothers and fathers who will not be available for the holiday season. Some families, due to circumstances beyond their control, will not have the chance to be with their children during the holidays. The BGSU men's basketball program, along with the support of Sheriff Chris Hilton and Mark Wasylyshyn, will be donating gifts that will hopefully make a lasting impact in the lives of these families.
"We are extremely thankful to be able to partner with the Wood and Erie County Sheriffs on our first year of giving back through this initiative," said BGSU head men's basketball coach Todd Simon. "Our mission is to develop servant leaders through the BGSU basketball program and this is a significant and thoughtful contribution to the community. We are grateful for the Zaher family for their contributions and the Sheriffs for their time and effort in this collaboration."
The Christmas Spectacular is executed in two phases. In phase one, completed Thursday morning (Dec. 14), the basketball players and staff met up with the Sheriffs at a Bowling Green warehouse to organize and box the gifts for the families. Boxes included toys for kids, household necessities, blankets, coats, and other smaller items that families may need. In phase two, the team will drive around with the Sheriffs to help distribute the gifts to all those families who need it. The objective is to present a family with a box of goods, and anything that family does not want or need, they will return to the box for another family to have. The hope is to provide a feeling of constant giving and paying forward in the Bowling Green community.
This is an initiative that sophomore guard JZ Zaher started two years ago when he was a senior at Flint Powers High School. Zaher's goal was to find a way that he could give back by helping those who needed help around the holidays. As a senior at Flint Powers, Zaher called his local sheriff's office and asked for their help in his operation. It has now grown to include several sheriffs from several counties in Ohio and Michigan. Several NBA players have also joined the initiative as well as the popular singer Jelly Roll.
"This is something I plan on going on for years and years, even after me, after I leave Bowling Green," said Zaher. "It's an event that brings communities together, it's an event that brought my teammates together, and I am super grateful that my teammates were able to come do this event with me. It's a Christmas miracle as some would say – not many teams would want to do something like this so I'm just very grateful."
Follow the Falcons
Be sure to follow the Falcons' men's basketball team on social media
Twitter - @BGAthletics and @BGSUMHoops
Instagram - 'bgfalcons' and 'bgsumhoops'
Facebook - 'BGSU Athletics'
YouTube - 'Falcon Athletics'
This project aims to reach out to those in our community who have faced unimaginable tragedies this year, whether it be the loss of a child, a devastating accident robbing a family of a parent, or the challenges faced by incarcerated single mothers and fathers who will not be available for the holiday season. Some families, due to circumstances beyond their control, will not have the chance to be with their children during the holidays. The BGSU men's basketball program, along with the support of Sheriff Chris Hilton and Mark Wasylyshyn, will be donating gifts that will hopefully make a lasting impact in the lives of these families.
"We are extremely thankful to be able to partner with the Wood and Erie County Sheriffs on our first year of giving back through this initiative," said BGSU head men's basketball coach Todd Simon. "Our mission is to develop servant leaders through the BGSU basketball program and this is a significant and thoughtful contribution to the community. We are grateful for the Zaher family for their contributions and the Sheriffs for their time and effort in this collaboration."
The Christmas Spectacular is executed in two phases. In phase one, completed Thursday morning (Dec. 14), the basketball players and staff met up with the Sheriffs at a Bowling Green warehouse to organize and box the gifts for the families. Boxes included toys for kids, household necessities, blankets, coats, and other smaller items that families may need. In phase two, the team will drive around with the Sheriffs to help distribute the gifts to all those families who need it. The objective is to present a family with a box of goods, and anything that family does not want or need, they will return to the box for another family to have. The hope is to provide a feeling of constant giving and paying forward in the Bowling Green community.
This is an initiative that sophomore guard JZ Zaher started two years ago when he was a senior at Flint Powers High School. Zaher's goal was to find a way that he could give back by helping those who needed help around the holidays. As a senior at Flint Powers, Zaher called his local sheriff's office and asked for their help in his operation. It has now grown to include several sheriffs from several counties in Ohio and Michigan. Several NBA players have also joined the initiative as well as the popular singer Jelly Roll.
"This is something I plan on going on for years and years, even after me, after I leave Bowling Green," said Zaher. "It's an event that brings communities together, it's an event that brought my teammates together, and I am super grateful that my teammates were able to come do this event with me. It's a Christmas miracle as some would say – not many teams would want to do something like this so I'm just very grateful."
Introducing the 2023 BG Men's Basketball Christmas Spectacular🏀🎄
— BGSU Men's Basketball (@BGSUMBB) December 15, 2023
Excited to partner with the Sheriff Departments of Wood and Erie County to help make this holiday season special!#FlyAroundandFindOut x #AyZiggy pic.twitter.com/R9L6ZDmuOY
Thank you so much to the Wood County Sheriff's Office for partnering with us for this special event🟠🟤#FlyAroundandFindOut x #AyZiggy https://t.co/GR93dBHAXD
— BGSU Men's Basketball (@BGSUMBB) December 15, 2023
Follow the Falcons
Be sure to follow the Falcons' men's basketball team on social media
Twitter - @BGAthletics and @BGSUMHoops
Instagram - 'bgfalcons' and 'bgsumhoops'
Facebook - 'BGSU Athletics'
YouTube - 'Falcon Athletics'