Jan. 10, 2013
Photo Gallery
Bronx, N.Y. -
After opening their 2013 Atlantic 10 season by making the fans cheer during an 82-75 win over Duquesne in the Rose Hill Gym on Wednesday night, the 2012-13 Fordham University men's basketball team spread some more cheer today as they demonstrated the Jesuit philosophy of homines pro aliis (people for others), brightening the lives of some Bronx youngsters by presenting the children with presents at St. Barnabas Hospital, in the Bronx.
"Every year I stress to the guys how important it is for them to connect and spend time with the kids at the clinic," said Fordham head men's basketball coach Tom Pecora. "Many of the kids we saw today are less fortunate than ourselves and for someone to sit and talk to them can mean a great deal. I think it's important for the players to understand that this is real life. It's something that will hopefully stay with them for a long time."
The gifts presented to the children were donated by Fordham basketball fans at all men's and women's home basketball games prior to Christmas as well as by members of the Athletic Department. Besides the gifts, the children also received Fordham basketball ski caps from the student-athletes.
This is the eighth straight year that the Fordham basketball program has appeared at the St. Barnabas Hospital and Union Community Health Center to distribute gifts to the children. The original idea was to us the day to help recognize Three Kings Day, celebrated annually on January 6th, twelve days after Christmas. It is often viewed as the last day of the Christmas season (the end of the 12 days of Christmas). This year Fordham's visit to St. Barnabas was moved to today due to scheduling conflicts.
"We are so excited to have the team here," said Patricia Belair, senior vice president of the hospital. "As the parent of a college student, I know how busy their lives can be. So it is so nice when the student-athletes can take time out of their day to spread some cheer."
John Tognino, a Fordham Board of Trustees Emeriti and Vice Board Chairman at St. Barnabas, says that reaching out to the children is "a great reflection upon the spirit at Fordham University. We are all proud to be Rams!"
The Rams will return to action on Sunday, January 13th, as they host the University of Massachusetts in an Atlantic 10 matchup in the Rose Hill Gym at 1:00 p.m. in a game that will be televised live on the YES Network.
