NEW YORK — The holidays came early for several local children as the John Jay College of Criminal Justice baseball team hosted its seventh annual holiday party in the fourth floor gym of the T Building, located at 899 Tenth Avenue, for children from a local foster home.
More than twenty children from the Catholic Guardian Society and Home Bureau came to visit and were treated to an afternoon of fun with the John Jay baseball team.
Head coach Dan Palumbo, each member of the 2008 baseball team, along with several graduated members of the conference champion 2007 team, were on hand to host the party, which featured games, food, singing, and a visit from Santa Claus.
"The event has really become a tradition for us," said Palumbo. "I know my guys get a great deal of satisfaction by offering gifts to the less fortunate. And the kids who visit are very grateful and thrilled to be here."
Each child left with a gift paid for by the team, while many parents of the children and friends of the team members were also on hand to celebrate the event.
The event was one of several for the John Jay athletics department this semester. Last month members of the Student Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) sponsored a can drive for a homeless shelter during Thanksgiving season, and coming up on Friday SAAC is hosting a Christmas party for local children it just finished sponsoring a toy drive for.
The 2008 baseball season for John Jay starts on Feb. 24 at Stevens Tech at noon.