December 20, 2010 - Geneva College
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December 20, 2010

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Beaver Falls, PA - It is truly the reason for the season. The Christmas holiday means a lot of things to a lot of different people. At Geneva College and specifically when it comes to the Golden Tornadoes′ softball team, the Christmas season is an opportunity to help those families who are less fortunate.

Throughout the fall months, the Geneva softball team gathers weekly for team devotionals. During one such devotional, senior Anjelica Marsh, who was working at T.R.A.I.L.S. Ministries for a required internship, proposed the idea of teammates helping out families during Christmas through the Angel Tree program. "We have such a great group of players on this team," said Marsh. "I knew this was a project that everyone would be excited for and that we would have the chance to help so many children in our area."

Angel Tree give groups an opportunity to share Christ′s love by helping to meet the physical, emotional and spiritual needs of the families of prisoners. Mainly through the work of area churches, Angel Tree is a way to care for some of the most overlooked members of our communities. Angel Tree Christmas works by connecting parents in prison with their children through the delivery of Christmas gifts.

Marsh acquired the names of ten children that were targeted by an incarcerated parent for specific Christmas gifts. Each member of the softball team, in their very limited free time and with their own limited funds, purchased gifts for these very special children. The gifts were wrapped and labeled and are set to be delivered sometime prior to Christmas morning.

"Angel Tree is a very special program," said head coach Van Zanic. "All of the credit goes to our players. They wanted to do something special for others during the holiday season and this opportunity was placed in front of them and they grabbed it without hesitation. We are so blessed at Geneva College to have student-athletes that are not about themselves, but are about helping other people. It is a real tribute to this school and to the students that are at Geneva."

With the presents set for delivery this week, there will be a few more smiles on the faces of children throughout Beaver County because of the Angel Tree program. If Christmas is truly the time for giving then the Geneva College softball team certainly got it right this year. "I hope this will make a difference in the lives of some of these children," said Marsh. "My hope is that our softball team can grow a little bit more through this program and have an understanding of what it means to help others during the holidays. I am just so thankful to be associated with such a great group of teammates and coaches that have been so supportive in helping make this program a success."

Geneva College is a comprehensive Christian college of the arts, sciences and professional studies. Founded in the tradition of the Reformed Christian faith, Geneva prepares students to serve Christ in all areas of society: work, family and the church. Geneva College′s philosophy of education is based on the Foundational Concepts of Christian Higher Education. Geneva is a founding member of the Council for Christian Colleges & Universities (CCCU).

Dec 20, 2010