HUNTSVILLE, Ala. – Alabama A&M Athletics has partnered with Academy Sports + Outdoors to kick off the holiday season by donating $3,000 in gift cards and holiday gifts for children of the Harris Home for Children on Wednesday, December 9.
 
"This was a great opportunity for our Department and University to give to others especially during the holidays," said Director of Athletics Bryan Hicks. "Alabama A&M Athletics is always looking for ways to better serve the community and we felt this was a great way to not only spread some holiday cheer to the wonderful kids at the Harris Home but also to give them a chance to see what the schools in our conference are about."

The Harris Home for Children is a private, non-profit agency providing full-time foster care services and crisis support for neglected adolescent children in our community, and around the State of Alabama. The organization seeks to provide the highest level of foster care, therapeutic care, and educational services through a variety of programs.

"Very thankful to Alabama A&M University, the Southwestern Athletic Conference and Academy Sports + Outdoors for the wonderful donation and gifts they are giving to us," stated Reggie McKenzie, the Executive Director of the Harris Home for Children. "The Huntsville community has always come through for us here at the Harris Home. These gifts will be distributed to our kids in the program, all of whom who are separated from their families. We as a staff, the board of directors and certainly the children are all very thankful for the gesture, especially during this tough time we are all going through right now."
 
With representatives on hand from both Alabama A&M and Academy Sports + Outdoors along with the Harris Home for Children, the latter was scheduled to picked up $1,000 worth of Christmas gifts on their holiday wish list, provided by Academy. When they arrived at the store, Academy Sports + Outdoors surprised them with an additional $2,000 gift card so that the organization can make local children's holidays a little brighter.
 
"Today, Academy has partnered with both Alabama A&M and the Harris Home for children with gifts and gift cards to be distributed to the children of the Harris Home," said Leslie Winsett, the Academy Sports + Outdoors Store Director. "This is part of the partnership between our company and the SWAC, Academy is really focusing on building meaningful relationships throughout our communities to try to make an impact in the SWAC and beyond. It is a great feeling to be able to give and hopefully make this Christmas season a special moment for the kids."
 
About Academy Sports + Outdoors   
Academy is one of the leading full-line sporting goods and outdoor recreation retailers in the United States. Originally founded in 1938 as a family business in Texas, Academy has grown to 259 stores across 16 contiguous states, primarily in the southern United States. Academy's mission is to provide "Fun for All" and Academy fulfills this mission with a localized merchandising strategy and value proposition that strongly connects with a broad range of consumers. Academy's product assortment focuses on key categories of outdoor, apparel, footwear and sports & recreation through both leading national brands and a portfolio of 17 private label brands, which go well beyond traditional sporting goods and apparel offerings.   
 
About SWAC/Academy Sports + Outdoor Section
The partnership between Academy Sports + Outdoors and the Southwestern Athletic Conference focuses on establishing meaningful community initiatives within the SWAC footprint. Specifically, these initiatives will look to activate and amplify grassroots efforts, such as youth outreach and mentoring programs, that is inclusive of student-athletes and administrators from across the conference.