WILKES-BARRE – Student-athletes from 17 of Wilkes University's 24 athletic programs helped spread Christmas cheer to kids in need at Kistler Elementary School Thursday morning, an operation spearheaded by Wilkes women's soccer graduate student Amanda Lee (Middletown, PA/Middletown Area).

Lee, a pharmacy student at Wilkes, started the gift drive last year, one of many projects she and Kistler Elementary Principal Corey Brenner have worked on during her time at Wilkes. Lee and her women's soccer teammates have helped revamp the school's playground, paint benches, read to students, and more.

With the support of her peers, Lee was able to help deliver gifts to 200 kindergarten and autistic support students at the school in 2024. This year, the drive doubled their efforts from last year to bring gifts to 400 students in kindergarten, first grade, and autistic support.

The event also received gift donations from outside of Wilkes, with the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins donating gifts to the cause. Gifts included toys, coloring books, children's books, and much more.

"I had an idea to grow the event even bigger, but I didn't think it would be this," Lee said of the turnout for this year's drive. "I want to thank all the teams that showed up, my coaches (John) McNichol, Coach Lilly (Cross), Coach Krista (Liotti), and (Athletic Director) Scott Musa for supporting this. I'm just so thankful that so many teams from Wilkes wanted to support this idea."

"We talk all the time about setting a standard and being leaders on our team, on our campus, and in the local community, and Amanda and our young women have really ran with that," said McNichol. "Amanda has been the point person on this since we were placed here a couple years ago for The Big Event, and each year we seem to do something different. To do the gift drive last year and see it grow this year, I have no doubt in my mine we're going to get even more teams involved next year."

"To see Amanda really take an idea and put in the time, energy, and effort in on her own, on top of being a member of the women's soccer team and our doctoral pharmacy program, it really speaks to the type of person she is and in turn the type of person that we have not only on our team but within our department as well," McNichol continued.

Brenner, a native of Wilkes-Barre, spoke about the impact that this event has had on his students.

"Christmas time for some of us is the time to give gifts, to enjoy family. Some of our families don't have that," Brenner said. "Without the support of Wilkes, this isn't possible. Coming from the Wilkes-Barre Area School District, I am one of them. I grew up without. The impact and the ripple effect that this has on these kids, ultimately this might be the only Christmas present they receive, it really takes me back. I'm so grateful for Amanda, Coach McNichol, and the Wilkes Athletic Department."