Friarhood’s first-time toy drive and fundraiser makes the off-season merry and bright

Thank you, thank you, thank you to everyone who helped to make our innaugural holiday charity event - “Hot Stove, Warm Hearts” - a success.  Your time, donations and enthusiasm are so appreciated and inspiring.

We first want to acknowledge The Tilted Kilt for providing the venue for the event and providing street tacos and drink specials.  It felt great to be back in the Petco Park neighborhood, even if we’re still a few months away from the first pitch of 2012.  Thank you for being great hosts!

The raffle — which completely exceeded our expectations in terms of outstanding donations and participation — to support the adopt-a-family program through the Armed Services YMCA would not have been possible without our amazing donors!  Whether you contributed Padres memorabilia, gifts or other products and services, or if you helped make it a success by purchasing tickets, you are making a great difference in the lives of military families in need.  Please help us to thank our donors for their generosity by supporting their local businesses. *Congratulations to our winners and enjoy your prizes! *

We knew Padres fans were generous and filled with the holiday spirit, but your contributions to Toys for Tots were overwhelming — overflowing the donation box with nearly 100 items!  To know that we will help make a kid’s Christmas a little brighter is what we were hoping to achieve with this event, and we could not have done that without your help.  Please know that your donation is not only appreciated by us, but by the children and families that are the recipients.  We all know that times are challenging for many, and the time and resources you give to help others is evidence that the Padres have an outstanding community of fans. ***

“A Million Thanks” to those who took a few moments to write a note of support and gratitude to our troops.  Your cards will be distributed in the new year at military bases at home and abroad.  It seemed only fitting, with the Padres’ long history of supporting the military, that we do a small part to thank our military individuals and their families for their sacrifice.  If you were unable to attend the event but would like to contribute a card a card to A Million Thanks, please visit their website.

A special thanks to our friends from the Padres’ front office, clubhouse and the media that helped make this event a success.  We greatly appreciate your time and support.  Special thanks are due to XTRA Sports 1360 for their donations and helping us to promote the event over the airwaves. To Tom Garfinkel who stopped by with auction items and other front office staff who came to support our cause, Mat and Dallas Latos, and their family for donations to the raffle and for spending their evening with fans, Heath and Nicole Bell for contributing items for the raffle, and to some of everyone’s favorite familiar faces and voices from San Diego’s sports media and fan coverage - Jane Mitchell, John Weisbarth and Michael Gehlken, and John Gennaro the staff at Gaslamp Ball- thank you for taking the time to help a group of dedicated Padres fans do something good for San Diego.  Photos of the night are now available on the Friarhood site! ****

We couldn’t have made this event happen without everyone’s contributions.  We are so inspired by your holiday spirit and generosity.  Thank you for making our first holiday charity event a success and we will keep you posted on events to come during the 2012 season.  From the Friarhood family to yours, all our best to you during the holidays and coming year. Go Padres!

* For more information on our donors, please visit Farmers Insurance San Diego District 65, Gaslamp Ball, Jane Mitchell One on One, San Diego Padres, Sports Roses, Tucson Padres, XTRA Sports 1360.  Thank you to everyone who made this event possible.

** Leila will be contacting raffle winners over the weekend to make arrangements for prize pick-ups next week.

*** If you would like to contribute to Toys for Tots during this holiday season, you can find a list of drop-off locations here.

**** Thank you to Brandon for taking and sharing such great pictures!