Titans, Academy Sports host shopping spree for area kids

! A shopping spree hosted by Academy Sports and the Tennessee Titans helped bring Christmas joy to 25 area middle school students this holiday season.

NASHVILLE, TN, Dec. 19, 2008 —Academy Sports + Outdoors recently hosted 25 area middle school students for a holiday shopping spree! The youngsters were aided in their shopping by Tennessee Titans players, cheerleaders and T-Rac.

Academy provided gift cards for all of the youngsters, who shopped for themselves as well as other members of their family. The youth were members of Nashville's Backfield in Motion or the Boys & Girls Clubs of Middle Tennessee.

Sandy Thompson, Regional Coordinator for Academy Sports + Outdoors, greeted the children and explained the process for the evening. Each guest would be given a gift card for their shopping spree. Thompson and the Academy staff received a large cheer when they were informed that at the end of their shopping, all 25 children would be given a new bicycle, compliments of Academy!

Titans players Rob Bironas, Vincent Fuller, Quinton Ganther, Nick Harper and Jason Murphy were on hand to lend their shopping expertise to the boys, who also found plenty of time to talk football with their NFL heroes.

! Titans cheerleaders were on hand to help the children enjoy their shopping spree at Academy Sports.

Titans cheerleaders Ashley, Kristen, Leigh, Melanie and Tandra assisted the girls with their shopping spree. While T-Rac was his normal outgoing self, there was no evidence of him helping with the shopping but store security did follow him around to make sure he behaved himself.

"I can't believe we got to do this tonight," said a young 12-year old girl. "I got presents for my mom, brothers and sisters. And some for me too! This was the best night of my life."

Those thoughts were echoed by many of the young shoppers.

"Personally and on behalf of Backfield in Motion I would like to thank Academy Sports and the Tennessee Titans for allowing our kids to take part in this needed and heartfelt event," said Stephen McAdoo, VP at Backfield in Motion. "This experience will be one that the kids will never forget. They were so excited and thankful for this opportunity."

"For some, this will be the only Christmas they have," McAdoo added. "The players and cheerleaders were great with everything from helping the kids pick out gifts to even suggesting that that they think of others. The next day we received phone calls from parents expressing their gratitude to everyone involved. Academy Sports and the Tennessee Titans have done something very special that these kids will always remember and I thank them for all they do in reaching out to the community.

The shopping experience was also a huge reward for the staff at Academy Sports + Outdoors, who provided excellent assistance to the shoppers as well.

! Children left Academy with smiles on their faces!

"The Academy Sports and Outdoors staff was excited to be a partner with the Titans in bringing an early Christmas to the group of kids present Monday night at the Cool Spring store," said Thompson. "I am not sure who had more fun - the kids shopping for early Christmas gifts, the Titans players as they zipped around the store trying to keep pace with the 'shoppers', or our Academy staff as they witnessed the surprise on the faces of all present, when they rolled up a line of new bikes and told each child they would all be taking one home with them that night."

"Thanks go to all the Titans staff and players for making it a special night for the kids from Backfield In Motion and Boys & Girls Club," added Thompson.

As his team of shoppers was going thru the checkout lane, Titans DB Vincent Fuller was overhead saying "I had a great time with the kids tonight plus I also got some great ideas for presents I need to get for my family as well. I'll be back for more shopping.