Hoops Squads Partner With Merrie Christmas Project

MACON – The Mercer men's and women's basketball teams will continue their partnership with the United Way of Central Georgia's Merrie Christmas Project as part of upcoming home games at Hawkins Arena, officials from both teams announced Wednesday.

The support of the philanthropic project will be on full display for the first time on Sunday when the men's basketball team (5-4) hosts Chicago State (0-11) at 2 p.m. Tickets for that contest are still available and can be purchased by visiting MercerBears.com/Tickets, but fans donating at least one pair of socks to the Merrie Christmas Project will be admitted free.

The holiday story will remain the same for the women's basketball team's midweek affair with Jackson State on December 19 (Thursday). Tickets can be purchased by visiting MercerBears.com/Tickets, while fans can also receive free admission to the contest by donating a pair of socks.

ABOUT THE MERRIE CHRISTMAS PROJECT

Mike and Nancy Kaplan founded The Merrie Christmas Project in 2019 in memory of their daughter, Merrie, who had a profound love of all things Christmas. Merrie was born with a rare genetic condition, Williams syndrome. Fitting to her name, she was known throughout central Georgia as a friendly, outgoing woman, who brought joy wherever she went. Now, her memory brings joy across middle Georgia through The Merrie Christmas Project, a fundraising effort that provides gifts, educational items, holiday décor, and food to families in need during the Christmas season. "She made this world a better place and we want to continue that in a way that's meaningful to the joy of Merrie because that's what Merrie was. Merrie was joy," said Mike Kaplan, Merrie's father.

Merrie's Closet is an extension of The Merrie Christmas Project. It is a clothing source for our middle Georgia students who are not in proper dress code or may have had an emergency arise during school. Merrie's Closet has donated khakis, sweatshirts, shirts, socks, underwear, and child/adult diapers to Bibb County schools.

"There are children who come to school without the proper clothing - maybe their family is not able to provide it or something beyond their control happened during the school day. In speaking with several educators, we found the need for items like socks, underwear, shirts, sweatshirts, khakis, and diapers," said Mike Kaplan. "Through Merrie's Closet, teachers and administrators have access to these new items for their students."

HOW TO DONATE

Monetary donations may be made to Community Foundation of Central Georgia and earmarked for The Merrie Christmas Project Fund and mailed to CFCG, 577 Mulberry St., Suite 1600, Macon, GA 31201.

Online donations may be made at cfcga.org/fund/merrie

Mercer University Athletics

Hoops Squads Partner With Merrie Christmas Project

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