Fury players wrap presents for the Salvation Army.
Members of the Fury Softball Academy celebrated with a Christmas party on Saturday to benefit the Salvation Army.
Each Fury player on the seven fastpitch teams brought a gift to a wrapping party where the older girls assisted the younger ones in gift wrapping each present at the Fury Academy on Mack Smith Road.
The presents were then presented to a representative of the Salvation Army.
“Saturday was unbelievable,’’ said Pat Moyer, founder of the Fury Academy. "We had about 80 of our players show up. Each kid brought a gift, and then we had a gift-wrapping party. I think between all the players and coaches that we donated close to 100 gifts to the Salvation Army.
“It is important to me as the founder of Fury Fastpitch and all the other coaches and parents involved that we try and teach our kids how to share our good fortune. I think the girls really felt great after hearing from a representative from the Salvation Army about what their generosity was going to do for these kids that are less fortunate than we are.’’
Moyer said that Tad Andrus, who coaches the Fury 14U team, and his wife Tammy, came up with the idea to support The Salvation Army.
“It was their vision, coordination, and efforts that made this magical day happen,’’ Moyer said. “Last year we partnered with the Chattanooga Baseball Club to support the Make a Wish Foundation and were able to grant a wish for a little boy that wanted to go on a Disney Cruise. We held a "Battle of the Sexes" softball game against the Chattanooga Baseball Club and through that event were able to raise over $5,000 dollars to send the little boy and his family on a Disney Cruise.
“Our goal is not only to develop great athletes, and students, but to help them learn the importance of being involved in causes like these, and the importance of giving back to the community.’’
(E-mail Stan Crawley at wscrawley@earthlink.net)