AURORA, Colo. -- With the help of Santa and one of Santa's helpers, T.J. Ward, Kenneth Faried and Ty Lawson delivered an early Christmas to 31 kids from North Middle School on Wednesday night, taking them on a $100 shopping spree at Target.
The "Christmas ReWard's event with friends" program is in its fourth year and its first in Denver. Ward started it in Cleveland and brought it with him when he joined the Broncos.
"Whoever I play for, the community is always the reason why I can have the success I can have and the teams can have the success they have," Ward said. "So it's definitely important to give back to the people who are surrounding you and support what you do."
Ward teamed up with Lawson and Faried from the Denver Nuggets to put on the event and also brought along Broncos teammates. Terrance Knighton, Brandon Marshall and Kayvon Webster joined Ward, Lawson and Faried in the aisles of Target, helping kids pick out gifts. The kids were chosen primarily on the basis of financial need.
"I try to give back to those who don't have it," Ward said. "I grew up in an area where there were a lot of kids like that and frankly, they need it more than anybody else."
Added Faried, "It's extremely important around the holiday, because every kid wants to have that big Christmas and that Christmas tree and Santa to bring them a massive amount of gifts."
"I just want to put smiles on kids' faces here for a couple hours and go shopping," Lawson said. "Kids love nice gifts."
With the help of Santa and one of Santa's helpers, T.J. Ward, Kenneth Faried and Ty Lawson delivered an early Christmas to 31 kids from North Middle School on Wednesday night, taking them on a $100 shopping spree at Target.
