The "Marquette Express" Delivers Holiday Cheer To Milwaukee Children
The enjoyment of the holiday season lies in both the giving and receiving of gifts. Marquette's student-athletes put giving at the forefront, as their efforts brought Christmas cheer to those less fortunate.
MU's Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) led the "Marquette Express" to provide 45 Milwaukee children with gifts that they might not have otherwise received. Working through the All Saints Giving Tree organization and All Saints Catholic Church on the north side, each Marquette team collected gifts for a designated family. The teams did the shopping and wrapping, and even wrote personalized messages to the children.
"The children had a wish list," SAAC president and volleyball senior Rachel Stier said. "They told us what they wanted and we played Santa."
During Marquette's exam week, a group of athletes took time from their studies to personally deliver the gifts to the families, who gathered at All Saints Church to meet the athletes.
"It's a really humbling experience to be able to see these kids' reactions to the Christmas presents," men's soccer redshirt freshman Brady Walsh said. "It's awesome to see each team pitch in the money and give these kids something that they wouldn't have had."