UA Student-Athletes Support Project Angel Tree
12/1/2009 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
Dec. 1, 2009
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – The University of Alabama Athletics Department and Project Angel Tree continued its 18-year association Tuesday evening when student-athletes gathered to present Christmas presents to more than 40 children at Coleman Coliseum. The program supports children whose parents are incarcerated.
“The University of Alabama Athletic Department is one of the longest running groups in the state of Alabama that have been serving these kids for 18 years,” said Mark Earley, who serves as president of the Prison Fellowship Ministry that supports Angel Tree. “On behalf of our organization, we’d like to say thanks to the University of Alabama and these wonderful student-athletes for their support and what it means to the kids.”
The highlight of the event came when former Alabama All-American and current New York Yankees pitcher David Robertson presented gift cards to the Project Angel Tree to further the assistance for the children during the holidays.
“I’ve done a few things this season that allowed me those gift cards and I wanted to donate them to an organization that was worthy,” Robertson said on Tuesday afternoon. “The University of Alabama has given me so much and I felt like I needed to give back. This community has been great to me and why not give something back to the kids that really need it.”
Robertson was a two-time All-American at Alabama in 2005 and 2006. He appeared in 61 career games and compiled an 11-9 record with 18 saves and 2.96 ERA. He is one of five players off the Crimson Tide’s 2006 SEC Championship team to see action in the Major Leagues. Robertson signed with the New York Yankees after the 2006 season and has won championships at all levels of professional baseball. He won two games in the 2009 post season, beating Minnesota and Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim.
The Crimson Tide student-athletes hosted a party for the children on Tuesday that included the presentation of the gifts.
“This is a great tradition to be a part of at the University of Alabama,” senior volleyball player Elizabeth Salstrand said. “It is a way for us to support the children, who are less fortunate, during the Christmas season. I am glad to be a part of this.”
