News & Events

Ryerson Rams student-athletes have adopted two families this holiday season.

For the second consecutive year, Ryerson Athletics have organized the Adopt-A-Family program where athletes raise money to donate to local families in need. The program comes out of the Rising Rams initiative, a mentoring program for elementary school students in the Greater Toronto Area (GTA). The group raised $1,900 from admission to a women’s basketball and men’s volleyball tournaments. Funds raised were used to buy educational and fun games and clothes for the children in each family. A group of eight athletes visited the families Dec. 10 and 11 to deliver the gifts and spend time with the children.

Shauna Bookal, promotions and athletics events coordinator, found the weekend to be both emotional and joyful.

“Both mothers had never seen their older children this happy or excited. They were happy to see a smile on their kids’ faces,” Bookal said. “Ryerson is part of the inner-city of Toronto and if we have the opportunity to help a family in need, it’s great that we can help them in any way possible.”

Tania Conway was surprised and shocked to learn she would be one of the two families to benefit from the Adopt-A-Family program. Her husband has been in critical condition in the hospital for the past three years and as the sole provider for her 13-year-old son and six-year-old daughter, times have been tough. Both children were grateful to receive so many presents. During the Rams’ visit they were allowed to open one gift each, saving the rest until Christmas.

“The kids got a lot more stuff then they ordinarily would have,” Conway said. “Since we’ve gotten in touch with Ryerson, they’ve been a great help. Anything extra helps a lot.”

Men’s hockey captain Andrew Buck has gone above and beyond his role as a Rising Ram and has become a ‘big brother’ to Conway’s son. Buck has taken the boy ice skating, played hockey with him and attended one of the child’s hockey games.

“I grew up with just my mom so I felt I could relate to her son,” Buck said. “I look at it as helping and a learning experience for me. He’s teaching me some things. He’s very independent and it’s inspiring for me to see this 13-year-old with a smile on his face always and doing things on his own.”

The holiday break will allow the ‘brothers’ to spend time hanging out and Buck hopes in the new year to bring Conway’s son to a men’s hockey game and include him in one of the practices.