The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
UAB Basketball Spreads Holiday Cheer at UCP of Birmingham
12/16/2015 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Dec. 16, 2015
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. -- The UAB men's basketball recently team shifted its focus from the court to the community Tuesday when the Blazers spread holiday cheer by partnering with United Cerebral Palsy of Greater Birmingham to assist adults with disabilities with Christmas shopping and gift wrapping.
Each student-athlete paired with a UCP member to help select gifts intended for family and friends. Once each UCP member completed their shopping list, the Blazer student-athletes assisted with wrapping each gift.
"I really don't have much experience wrapping gifts," junior Denzell Watts said. "I typically accept the free gift wrapping when I shop, so the roles were definitely reversed today."
UCP of Greater Birmingham has provided services and programs for children and adults with all types of disabilities, including addressing physical and health needs, encouraging development and offering opportunities for true integration into the community.
"The amount of smiles, both for the student-athletes and the participants at UCP, were priceless and far too many to count," Robert Derrington, Qualified Intellectual Disabilities Professional with UCP said. "UCP is so grateful to UAB and its Athletics Department for its involvement in our program."
UAB men's basketball has donated over 50 hours to the community since the start of the fall semester.
"Giving back to the Birmingham community is something we place a high importance on within our program," UAB head coach Jerod Haase said. "One of our core values is appreciation, and opportunities like this help us exemplify this important value."
The Conference USA Men's and Women's Basketball Championships are set to return to Birmingham for the second consecutive year, marking the third time the Blazers will host the event. The men's tournament, as well as the women's semifinals and championship, will be played at Legacy Arena in downtown Birmingham, while the women's first round and quarterfinal action will take place at UAB's Bartow Arena.
UAB ticket mini plans are now on sale and in high demand. The Holiday 3-Pointer includes games against Hiwassee College (Dec. 22), 2015 NCAA Tournament participant Stephen F. Austin (Dec. 29) and the Blazer's Conference USA home opener against Middle Tennessee (Jan 3). Lower level seats can be purchased for $36 ($60 value), or $24 in the upper level ($45 value). The Conference USA Season Pass is available for $119 in the lower level, (a savings of over $60) and only $79 in the upper level, ($56 off the regular price).
For more information on UAB men's basketball, follow the Blazers on Twitter (@UAB_MBB), on Instagram (@blazerhoops) or on Facebook (Facebook.com/UABMensBasketball). For more on all Blazer sports teams follow the official social media accounts of UAB Athletics on Twitter (@UABAthletics), on Facebook (Facebook.com/UAB.Blazers), on Instagram (@uabathletics) or on Snapchat (@uabathletics).
