Portland, OR - The mission of Cascade College is to educate students for lives of faith, leadership and service. In the spirit of that mission, several Thunderbird student-athletes took time out from their season to participate in Operation Christmas Child.

Organized by Cascade's Fellowship of Christian Athletes group, the students spent an evening filling and wrapping shoe boxes full of gifts for kids in need during the Christmas season.

"We put together 40 boxes this year, which is great." commented Athletic Director Jeremy Schwartz. "We wanted our group to take time to give to those who do not have the advantages that our American athletes have. The Track & Field and Soccer programs both used money from their own fund raising to provide many of the gifts that went into the boxes. Christmas affords may opportunities to be of service, and Operation Christmas Child is a unique project that the students were excited about participating in. This also fits right in with the NAIA's Champions of Character Program, which we have been a part of for several years. As a department we want to increase our involvement in the years ahead, and partner with the NAIA in using athletics as a service to others.

For more information about Operation Christmas Child visit Samaritan's Purse.

For more information about the NAIA's Champions of Character program visit here