The loss of Wizards owner Abe Pollin in November has added a special meaning to the team’s annual 12 Days of Holiday Cheer, which began at the beginning of the month, even for new players like Randy Foye.
“From what I’ve heard, that was a big part of what he did,” said Foye, who took the five children from the Cannaday family on a Target shopping spree earlier this month. “He was always in the community. He was always helping out families that were less fortunate. Just me going there, representing the Wizards and his name after he passed, that was extra special for me.”
Caron Butler was the last to appear with Pollin in public during a Bike for the Heart event in October.
“It was great coming into the arena and sitting with Mrs. Pollin and Mr. Pollin and Bike for the Heart, it was unbelievable to meet so many people and spread the message about heart awareness and heart disease and how it effects our community,” said Butler after Pollin’s death. “Mr. Pollin was in awe that I was willing to do it, ride a bike around in a suit. Then he flew me back to Toronto on a private plane so I could be with the team. That was great.”
Butler continued his emphasis on biking for health, which began in 2005 with Butler’s Bike Brigade in his hometown of Racine, Wisc., giving away over 100 bikes to children of military families prior to the Boston game on Dec. 10.
Other highlights of the Wizards “12 Days” included a Mike James-hosted advance screening of “The Princess and the Frog,” a quartet of surprise home visits and delivery of gifts to four D.C. families, an Antawn Jamison sneaker giveaway and Gilbert Arenas partnering with Bright Beginning to give away gifts to 100 kids.
Foye said the special touch was having a limousine take his chosen family on the Target round-trip.
“That’s what it’s all about to me, being able to put smiles on these kids faces who aren’t fortunate to have certain gifts [and] clothes that they want during Christmas time,” he said. “But to buy these things, to help them out, that’s what brings glory to my day.”
