WASHINGTON – Christmas came early this year for four families in the District as Capitals and Wizards players handed out toys and gifts Wednesday.
A big bus full of players, cheerleaders and press pulled up in Northeast. The first stop: the Briggs’ family apartment complex.
Jamal Briggs’ eyes were as big as saucers as Wizards center Nene Hilario handed him a gift. Jamal and his five siblings were adopted this year by the Monumental Sports and Entertainment Foundation.
Monumental Sports owns the Wizards, Capitals and Mystics.
Shamea Briggs knew it would be a big day for her family, but didn’t realize the dozens of gifts and dozens of people who would fill her living room.
“They recommended my family and I didn’t think we would be chosen,” Briggs says.
Capitals players Nicklas Backstrom, Eric Fehr, Steven Olesky and Joel Ward joined Mike Green passing out gifts.
“We came from all over the world. We’ve got a guy on the team from Sweden from Russia. We’re a part of this community and it’s just a little way to give back,” Green says.
Wizards forward Martell Webster was happy to be a part of the family-to-family gift day.
“The fact that we can turn their absolute holiday upside down for the better, with just a couple gifts and just showing face, that means so much to these kids and it goes so far,” Webster says.
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