By Larry Mayer The Bears rookie class made a grand entrance at the “Making Wishes Come True” holiday giving party at Soldier Field on Tuesday, December 15, riding down an escalator en masse into the United Club. As they waved to the crowd, it was hard to tell who was more excited to be there, the young football players—who wore their Bears jerseys and Santa Claus hats—or the scores of children on hand to greet them. “It means a lot,” receiver Johnny Knox said of the warm response the players received. “I’m pretty sure if any of us were having a bad morning, this is lifting us up, just being here and seeing the smiles on their faces.” More than 500 people attended the second annual holiday party, which was co-hosted by the Bears, Bears Care and United Airlines. Knox was joined by fellow rookies Al Afalava, Johan Asiata, Kahlil Bell, Kevin Brock, Jarron Gilbert, Juaquin Iglesias, Lance Louis, Kevin Malast, Henry Melton, D.J. Moore, Will Ta’ufo’ou and Woodny Turenne. Bears staff members, coaches and players, along with United Airlines employees, had the opportunity to “adopt” a child or family and grant their holiday wishes by purchasing gifts on their wish lists. The non-profit organizations that benefitted from the holiday giving initiative included Chicago House, Humboldt Park Social Services, James Jordan Foundation, Mercy Housing, Interfaith Council for the Homeless, Chicago Park District Youth Football and Southwest Organizing Project. “All of us rookies hope this brightens their Christmas,” Knox said of the kids. “This is fun for us, and we’re going to make this as fun as we can for them.” The Bears players assisted with various activities at the event, including bingo, musical chairs, baggo games, a youth football obstacle course, football toss and crafts. Melton and Asiata sang Karaoke songs with fans, Afalava played musical chairs, and Knox raced Iglesias to a draw in the obstacle course. “I just love being around kids,” Afalava said. “It’s just amazing when we came how kids know your name. It’s an honor and a privilege to be here. Hopefully we can have some fun and hopefully they’ll remember this.” Yolanda Brown of Chicago attended the event with her three children— Jalonda, 7, James, 5 and Jasmine, 1. “This is really nice,” she said. “It means a lot. We always watch the Bears play on TV, and I’m telling the kids that this is where they play, and they’re really excited. This is a bless- ing. I don’t know how to stop saying thank you.” KyToya Fultz was on hand with her cousins, Kalber, 6 and Kevin, 3.“Their faces are lighting up,” she said. “They want more pictures with Santa, and they want to know what they’re getting for Christmas. They don’t want to sit down. They want to do more things. There are so many opportunities here for kids.” Making Holiday Wishes Come True IN THIS ISSUE American Brain Tumor Association’s Annual Holiday Party Make-A-Wish Visits at Halas Hall Boeing Military Salute Home Team Hand-Off Chicago Bears “High School Coach of the Week” U.S. Army All-Americans Staples “Dream Park Challenge with the Bears” The Bears 2009 Rookie Class Kahlil Bell posed for a photo with some new friends from the Chicago Park District.
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Transcript
By Larry Mayer
The Bears rookie class made a grand entrance at the
“Making Wishes Come True” holiday giving party
at Soldier Field on Tuesday, December 15, riding
down an escalator en masse into the United Club.
As they waved to the crowd, it was hard to tell who
was more excited to be there, the young football
players—who wore their Bears jerseys and Santa
Claus hats—or the scores of children on hand to
greet them.
“It means a lot,” receiver Johnny Knox said of the
warm response the players received. “I’m pretty
sure if any of us were having a bad morning, this is
lifting us up, just being here and seeing the smiles on
their faces.”
More than 500 people attended the second annual holiday party, which was co-hosted by the Bears, Bears
Care and United Airlines. Knox was joined by fellow rookies Al Afalava, Johan Asiata, Kahlil Bell, Kevin
Brock, Jarron Gilbert, Juaquin Iglesias, Lance Louis, Kevin Malast, Henry Melton, D.J. Moore, Will
Ta’ufo’ou and Woodny Turenne. Bears staff members, coaches and players, along with United Airlines
employees, had the opportunity to “adopt” a child or family and grant their holiday wishes by purchasing gifts
on their wish lists. The non-profit organizations that benefitted from the holiday giving initiative included
Chicago House, Humboldt Park Social Services, James Jordan Foundation, Mercy Housing, Interfaith Council
for the Homeless, Chicago Park District Youth Football and Southwest Organizing Project.
“All of us rookies hope this brightens their Christmas,” Knox said of the kids. “This is fun for us, and we’re
going to make this as fun as we can for them.”
The Bears players assisted with various activities at the event, including bingo, musical chairs, baggo games, a
youth football obstacle course, football toss and crafts. Melton and Asiata sang Karaoke songs with fans,
Afalava played musical chairs, and Knox raced Iglesias to a draw in the
obstacle course.
“I just love being around kids,” Afalava said. “It’s just amazing when we
came how kids know your name. It’s an honor and a privilege to be here.
Hopefully we can have some fun and hopefully they’ll remember this.”
Yolanda Brown of Chicago attended the event with her three children—
Jalonda, 7, James, 5 and Jasmine, 1. “This is really nice,” she said. “It
means a lot. We always watch the Bears play on TV, and I’m telling the
kids that this is where they play, and they’re really excited. This is a bless-
ing. I don’t know how to stop saying thank you.”
KyToya Fultz was on hand with her cousins, Kalber, 6 and Kevin, 3.“Their
faces are lighting up,” she said. “They want more pictures with Santa, and
they want to know what they’re getting for Christmas. They don’t want to
sit down. They want to do more things. There are so many opportunities
here for kids.”
Making Holiday Wishes Come True
I N T H I S I S S U E
American Brain Tumor Association’s
Annual Holiday Party
Make-A-Wish Visits at Halas Hall
Boeing Military Salute
Home Team Hand-Off
Chicago Bears “High School Coach of
the Week”
U.S. Army All-Americans
Staples “Dream Park Challenge with
the Bears”
The Bears 2009 Rookie Class
Kahlil Bell posed for a photo with some new
friends from the Chicago Park District.
Very Generous Bears
Adams Delivers Holiday Cheer Defensive tackle Anthony Adams dressed up as Santa Claus and delivered toys to children at the American
Brain Tumor Association’s annual holiday party on Tuesday, December 8 at Grazie Ristorante & Banquets
in Des Plaines. Over 40 families from the greater Chicago metropolitan area attended the party. This was
the second consecutive year that Anthony has participated in the party, and the 10th year in a row that the
Chicago Bears have supported this event by arranging for a player to don the Santa suit.
To learn more about the American Brain Tumor Association and their programs, please visit
www.abta.org.
The Chicago Bears thank head coach Lovie Smith and seven generous Bears players for participating
in the Bears “Home Team Hand-Off” ticket donation program during the 2009 season. Through this
program players and coaches have the opportunity to purchase a block of season tickets and donate
them to the charity of their choice. The charity then distributes the tickets to deserving children, giv-
ing them the chance to experience a game at Soldier Field. One child from each organization also had
the opportunity to serve as an honorary captain and participate in the coin toss at mid-field with the
Bears team captains. The following Bears participated in the “Home Team Hand-Off” program in
2009: Roberto Garza presented “Roberto’s Amigos” in support of Los Amigos de Roberto; Tom-
mie Harris presented “Harris’ Heroes” in support of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Lake County and the
Tommie Harris Foundation; Israel Idonije presented “IZZYz KIDz” in support of the Israel Idonije
Foundation; Jason McKie presented “McKie’s Troops” in support of the Jason McKie Foundation;
Adewale Ogunleye presented “Wale’s Warriors” in support of By the Hand Club for Kids; Lovie Smith
presented “The Smith Crew” in support of Misericordia; Charles Tillman presented “Peanut’s Gallery” in support of Gift of Hope; and Brian Urlacher
presented “Urlacher’s Backers” in support of Allendale Association, Boys & Girls Clubs of Chicago, Chicago Youth Centers, Midtown Educational Foun-
dation, Special Olympics Illinois, Teen Living Programs, and UCAN.
Anthony “Santa Bear” Adams attended the
ABTA’s annual holiday party.
Kids from the Make-A-Wish Foundation and
UCAN served as honorary captains at the
Bears vs. Vikings game.
Make-A-Wish Visits The Chicago Bears supported the Make-A-Wish Foundation of Illinois by granting the wishes of two chil-
dren at the Bears final two home games of the 2009 season. The children, along with their families, had
the opportunity to visit the Bears training facility to watch practice and meet their favorite players and
coaches. The families were given complimentary tickets to the Bears vs. Packers and Bears vs. Vikings
games and were escorted down to the field to watch pre-game warm-ups from the sidelines at Soldier
Field. Each child also served as an honorary captain at their respective game, where they participated in
the coin toss with the Bears team captains and NFL officials. To learn more about the Make-A-Wish
Foundation of Illinois, please visit www.wishes.org.
A Make-A-Wish child visited with Bears play-
ers following practice.
Boeing Military Salute For all regular season home games this season, the Chicago Bears and The Boeing Company honored the
men and women of the armed forces through an in-game videoboard and on-field recognition. This oppor-
tunity allowed the Bears, Boeing, and our great fans to give thanks and support to those who protect our
country and also honor the history and heritage of Soldier Field. Tickets for the soldier and their guests
were generously provided by fullback Jason McKie and his participation in the Bears “Home Team Hand-
Off” ticket donation program. Through the Jason McKie Foundation, Jason strives to make an impact in
the lives of families of soldiers by providing educational scholarships to children and spouses affected by a
loss or severely injured parent or spouse. Boeing is a Proud Partner of the Chicago Bears.