Chicago, Ill. - Student-Athletes at the University of Illinois at Chicago demonstrated once again that academics and athletics are very important, but they never forget about the community.

On Monday, nearly 100 student-athletes, coaches and staff participated in the annual UIC Athletic Hospital Christmas Party. Monetary and item donations were collected and transformed into gift bags which were in turn handed out to the pediatric unit, as the Flames spread cheer to the faces of several children who were happy to see the red and blue.

Not only did the student-athletes hand out gift bags stocked full of great items, some of the Flames even did some Christmas Caroling to boot.

Denny Wills, Associate Athletic Director, orchestrated the event along with the UIC Student-Athlete Advisory Committee, and summed up what the Flames are all about.

"Our student-athletes have consistently proven that in addition to being great students and athletes, they are tremendous people," Wills said.

In addition to the Christmas Party, several staff members donated blood to the Holiday Blood Drive.

UIC Athletics would like to give special thanks to Miss Peggy Papierski, who donated over 60 toy items to the event.