SAN FRANCISCO — Several Academy of Art University athletics programs joined in on the holiday spirit this past week, helping out the San Francisco Firefighters with their annual Toys for Tots toy drive.
 
The ART U baseball, men's basketball, women's tennis and men's and women's track and field teams took time out of their weekends to assist the SFFF with many of the behind-the-scene tasks involved in the toy drive. Teams spent their days organizing, stocking shelves and even cleaning antique fire engines for delivery of toys later in the month.
 
"We really enjoyed our time with the SF firefighters," said Academy of Art head baseball coach Dan McDermott. "What could be more fun than a bunch of big kids from our baseball program being around an unlimited supply of toys."
 
Saturday was also the Academy of Art University's campus-wide "Day of Giving," where members of the general student body also lent their time to community service with the SFFF Toy Drive.
 
"Those people who need help in our communities are just as much a part of our team as the guys I step on the field with," said ART U baseball senior catcher James Singzon. "The San Francisco Fire Department is a staple for warming families during these Bay Area cold winters. We can broaden our force when we all work together sharing our holiday cheer!"
 
The Urban Knights men's basketball team, in the middle of their 2014-15 campaign, also helped deliver supplies to the nearby police station and mingled with some of the firefighters on hand.
 
"It was great to see the guys working together off the court," said ART U men's basketball assistant coach Phillip Samuel. "Each guy has their own personality and it really showed in a positive way helping with Toys for Tots this weekend. The time we put in for them will go a very long way in some of those kids' futures. We are very much looking forward to doing this again!"
 
Members of the women's tennis team were also present and gave a hand in the cleaning of the historic and classic fire engines at the large warehouse on Jerrold Ave.
 
"We had an amazing time giving back at the annual San Francisco Toy Drive," said Urban Knights tennis player Michelle Dandik. "Having fun with fire trucks and cleaning them up was a big highlight of the day!"
 
The men's and women's track and field teams spent their time sitting down and writing out Christmas cards for the SFFF to be sent out to community members.
 
"Being able to present our student-athletes to serve in the community is always a meaningful and worthy enterprise. However, every now and then we are presented with an opportunity to be part of a truly great event and the SF firefighters toy drive is one of those moments," said ART U head coach of men's and women's track and field Charles Ryan. "Working to help underprivileged children alongside some true heroes of our city is an honor and the team had a great time with this great event."
 
The Academy of Art University athletics department has always strived to give back to the community since its inception seven years ago, and that premise is reinforced by ART U Associate Athletics Director Student-Athlete Development/Internal Operations and Senior Woman Administrator Meghan Bushnell:
 
"Our athletic department was excited to give back at the annual San Francisco Firefighters Toy Drive during this holiday season, as this has been an ongoing tradition between the Urban Knights and the San Francisco Firefighters Local 798 since 2011. Between sorting toys into various age groups, to washing the fire trucks, to creating heartfelt cards to the young children of our community, our artist-athletes were able to help create a memorable Christmas to the families of San Francisco.
 
"As NCAA Division II members who embrace the 'Life in the Balance' mantra, our mission is to give back to local organizations in hopes of gaining a personable relationship to foster over the years, such as the partnership created with our artist-athletes and the San Francisco Firefighters."