INDIANAPOLIS -- Since 2008, Butler Athletics, led by the Student Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC), has partnered with St. Mary's Child Center to provide Christmas cheer to their pre-school students. St. Mary's serves three to five-year-old children at four locations in Indianapolis.
 
Many of the student-athletes and staff donated money to fill nearly 220 shoe boxes with gifts. The response was so overwhelming that a cash donation was made to St. Mary's to assist with the daily functions of the centers.
 
After wrapping the gifts on Sunday, some student-athletes and staff delivered the boxes to the Thompson Building location on Thursday. Kailey Eaton, Vice President of the SAAC, had this to say about her experience, "Being able to see the joy on the kids' faces when they opened their gifts was something I will never forget. They were so grateful for even the smallest things and it really made me appreciate everything I have. It was such a rewarding experience."