Angels lift spirits with holiday events

December 23rd, 2019

ANAHEIM -- The holiday season is a time of giving, and it’s no different for the Angels’ organization.

The Angels put on their annual Kids Holiday Party on Dec. 11 and held several other holiday-related charity events this offseason. Here’s a look at a few of the major holiday events put on by the Angels:

Kids holiday party
The Angels held their annual kids holiday party on Dec. 11, hosting more than 200 underprivileged children at Angel Stadium for a fun-filled Christmas-themed night. Angels players and participated, as well as former Angels Bobby Grich and Chuck Finley. Broadcaster José Mota and KLAA radio host Roger Lodge also helped bring in the holiday cheer.

The children, who came from local youth groups, were given Angels gear as they arrived and participated in a Q&A with the current and former players. Then came a dinner, during which the children were able to interact with the players, take selfies and receive autographs. They also were treated to a visit from Santa Claus and received a toy and pajamas. The Angels also transformed the field, bringing in snow to right field for the kids to play in and create snowmen.

It was the second year in a row the event was held at Angel Stadium. It was previously held at ESPNZone in Anaheim before it closed in June 2018.

It was the final large charity event of the year for the Angels Baseball Foundation, which was created in 2004 and focuses on investments in education, health care, arts and sciences, and community-related youth programs throughout the area. Other events include the Christmas in June Toy Drive, the Angels 5K and Fun Run, the Fill the Boot for Muscular Dystrophy event, baseball equipment drives, visits to CHOC Children's Hospital in Orange, the Adopt-A-School Program, the Angels Scholar Award, the Orange County Little League Challengers Classic, the Angels Back to School Program, Readers in the Outfield and a partnership with the Make-a-Wish foundation.

Angels canned food drive
The Angels were scheduled to host their annual canned food drive before Thanksgiving on Nov. 20, only to see it rained out, so it was moved to Dec. 9. Fans who donated at least 20 canned food items or $20 were treated to 10 swings on the field for batting practice. Those who donated at least 10 canned food items or donated $10 were able to throw off the bullpen mound. Fans were also given the chance to shag fly balls in the outfield and receive tours of both clubhouses.

Several Angels players participated in the event, including and . The event was hosted in conjunction with Second Harvest Food Bank with financial donations benefiting the Angels Baseball Foundation.

Giving Tuesday
The Angels celebrated Giving Tuesday on Dec. 3, with the Angels Baseball Foundation partnering with Team Smile to give back to underserved children in the local community. Children were invited to Angel Stadium to play games and to receive dental checkups and tips about dental hygiene. The children at the event received roughly $100,000 of free dental services, courtesy volunteers from The Smile Generation and Pacific Dentist Services. Team Smile's mission is to promote children's oral health through sports.