Jah’liah Johnson pulls her knees to her chest, and draws you in with her story.
She loves presents. What 10-year-old little girl doesn’t? She wants to tell you about something more important: giving to others.
“I pick out a few gifts for myself. But I really want them for my family. It’s fun,” Johnson said. “It makes me feel so happy to make them smile.”
As Johnson sits inside a classroom at the William E. Cope Boys & Girls Club, her joy filling the room, one thought persists.
What if she did not have this chance? Imagine if this opportunity was not available?
The very notion breaks hearts, and motivated Barb Paton to act when she arrived in Denver with her husband George, the general manager of the Broncos, in 2021. She aimed to bring together the wives whose husbands are the GMs for Colorado sports teams to help.
A few months later, she created the Holiday Huddle to raise funds for the Boys & Girls Clubs of Metro Denver. It returns for its fourth year on Dec. 17. Donations are being accepted at https://www.bgcmd.org/holidayhuddle/ through Dec. 16 to raise funds for the event and holiday parties and gifts for the 25 local clubs.
“I wanted to find a common thread for all the professional teams, and have us join forces. We found the Boys & Girls clubs worked for everyone,” Paton said. “And we all wanted to make it about the kids. We realize how important this can be for them.”
Everybody knows our professional sports teams do great work in the community. Most of it happens without us knowing about it. And that is the way they want it.
But there are times bringing attention is warranted because it increases the number of people who benefit. More lives can be improved, even if only for a day or a hour or two.
In case you haven’t noticed, it is not easy being a kid today. The challenges those who walk through the doors of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Metro Denver face are enormous.
Worrying about basic necessities like clothes and food makes it hard to let the mind wander in wonder during the holiday season. The kids are focused on having a safe place to eat, do homework and participate in activities and athletics.
But the idea of them not having a Christmas present hurts the soul.
“Frankly, many of our club families are facing even more hardships. There are a lot of demands on the limited income that they have, and we are all watching what’s happening in this kind of volatile time,” said Erin Porteous, chief executive officer of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Metro Denver. “Barb was like, ‘Let’s make this joyful for all the kids.’ It’s been so fun to watch it happen and watch it grow. Those who are there leave with hearts overflowing.”
Talking about the event brings Chandra MacFarland, wife of Avalanche GM Chris MacFarland, to tears.
She did not know what to expect when she first went. There were 120 kids from kindergarten to 12th grade in attendance as there will be again next month, including Johnson. They are invited as the highest earners of bucks, which they receive for finishing tasks like reading assignments, art projects or helping advisers tidy up classrooms and gyms throughout the year.
Stations are set up for the kids, everything from building gingerbread houses to wrapping gifts.
“The gift wrapping is where I want to be every time. The kids bring stuff in and my heart just melts. They start wrapping, and saying, ‘This one is for my mom and she is going to be so happy when she opens it.’ You watch this happen and you can’t believe it,” MacFarland said. “Literally every gift they have they are giving to someone in their family. It keeps happening over and over. They really show what is Christmas is about.”
These gestures are the reason Paton and MacFarland — and all the others tethered by a group chat — want to keep this tradition alive. These kids are amazing. Selfless, caring.
Santos Montoya, a seventh grader, has been coming to William E. Cope club for years. A loud star on the football field, he becomes shy when talking about his past participation in the Holiday Huddle. He seems surprised when asked about his generosity. The way he figures it, he is just doing the right thing.
“I like seeing how happy it makes the families, and my family. One of my favorite memories was getting my little brother (Kapono) three monster trucks,” Montoya said. “It was so great seeing him really happy after he opened it and getting to play with the toys at home. I wanted him to have something more than anything else.”
Caption
Denver Broncos
Avs coach Jared Bednar has experienced the joy. He is known to position himself in the gift room, helping the kids select presents.
“Seeing the looks on their faces, it is really special. They are having such a great time,” Bednar said. “Some grab the first gift. Some take 45 minutes. It is really cool to spend time with them and see how they process all of it. It is just such a great night.”
Paton wanted to impact the lives of kids, wanted the wives to come together to achieve it. As those who are able to help others know, it impacts you in ways you never anticipated.
A gift at the Holiday Huddle might be the best moment of a child’s holiday season.
Paton does not want them to miss out.
“It is just a great day of giving. There are a lot of people there and kids’ personalties come out. You might have one laughing and an another throwing a toy to (Avs president) Joe Sakic so he can wrap it up,” Paton said. “And the kids, they are so empathetic. It just tugs at your heart. It makes you want do everything you can to bring them joy.”
Want more sports news? Sign up for the Sports Omelette to get all our analysis on Denver’s teams.