University of Minnesota Athletics
Gophers Share Holiday Spirit
1/6/2012 12:00:00 AM | Student-Athlete Development
Dec. 23, 2011
 |  The Gophers drop off a donation for Coats for Kids. |
Toward the end of the non-conference season and the end of fall semester, the Minnesota basketball team had a busy schedule. But the Golden Gophers still took some time out to share some holiday spirit in the Twin Cities community. Gopher players and coaches participated in a number of charitable gestures put on by the Tubby Smith Foundation.
Several Gophers from both the men's and women's basketball teams visited the KARE-11 "backyard" during the 6 p.m. on Dec. 15 to drop off donations for Toys for Tots. The donations were collected at Gopher sporting events, including basketball games.
The next day, Smith and a few players went to the Salvation Army bearing 100 winter coats and a check to purchase 200 more. The donations support the Salvation Army's Coats for Kids program.
Even more Gophers got in the act on Dec. 20, when the team went on a shopping trip. The Gophers took 17 families shopping for holiday gifts at Target. They enjoyed interacting with the families and helping them find the items on their wish lists.
For photo galleries of these events visit the Facebook pages for Golden Gopher Basketball or the Tubby Smith Foundation. (These photos can be viewed with or without a Facebook account.)
