BUFFALO, N.Y. — Buffalo Sabres forward Alex Tuch joined in on the holiday giving season by delivering toys to Summit Academy students on Wednesday.
Through his AT9 Foundation, Tuch organized a Holiday Toy Drive to benefit The Summit Center's Holiday Cheer program. Holiday Cheer is an employee-driven campaign that supports families in need of extra financial assistance during the holiday season.
This year, more than 60 students and 115 siblings were enrolled.
"We are stunned by the community's heartfelt response to the AT9 Foundation Holiday Toy Drive," CEO of The Summit Center Lisa Foti said in a statement. "The financial toll of caring for a child with autism can be a burden for so many families. We're beyond grateful to Alex, the Sabres, and 97 Rock for raising awareness about their needs."
Community members donated more than 350 toys and over $2,500 in monetary donations.
"There's a lot more to life than just the game of hockey," Tuch said. "Days like these really remind you and bring you back to Earth and show you there's a lot more than just hockey in life and there's a lot more we need to do in the Buffalo area than just win hockey games so it's really special to me."
During his visit to the school, Tuch passed out presents to students participating in the celebration. The remaining gifts will be distributed to families on Friday, Dec. 20.