TONIGHT. HE HAS MORE ON ONE OF THE THUNDER’S BEST ANNUAL TRADITIONS. PART OF THEIR ANNUAL HOLIDAY TRADITION. AND IN PARTNERSHIP WITH SUNBEAM FAMILY SERVICES, GRANDPARENTS RAISING GRANDKIDS PROGRAM, THE ENTIRE OKLAHOMA CITY THUNDER TEAM, WHICH YOU CAN SEE ON THE PAYCOM CENTER RIGHT BEHIND ME, SPENT PART OF THEIR THURSDAY SHOPPING WITH THOSE GRANDKIDS AND HELPING GET THEM SOME PRESENTS FOR THE HOLIDAYS. FOR THOSE KIDS AND THOSE GRANDPARENTS, THIS WILL BE A DAY THEY’LL NEVER FORGET. I JUST GOT OUT OSPITAL, SO IT WAS IT WAS A BLESSING. IT WAS JUST JOY TO BE HERE AND TO WATCH AND TO GET AND TO SEE WHAT THE BOYS GOT. AND I JUST LOVED IT. VERY, VERY, VERY THANKFUL FOR IT. I MEAN, FROM THE BOTTOM OF MY HEART, I WAS THAT MUCH APPRECIATE JUST THAT INTERACTION. AND I HEARD DORT TELLING A GUY, I’M CHECKING ON YOUR GRADES AND A COUPLE OF MONTHS AND WE’RE HERE FOR YOU. AND I THINK THEM KNOWING THAT THEY’RE SEEING THEY’RE VALUED, THEY ARE. THEY’RE JUST KNOWN IN THIS COMMUNITY AND SUPPORTED BY SUCH A WONDERFUL ORGANIZATION. AND FOR THE PLAYERS, SPENDING TIME WITH THESE KIDS IS SOMETHING THAT EACH OF THEM LOOK FORWARD TO EVERY SEASON. YEAH. IT’S AWESOME. IT’S AWESOME TO BE ABLE TO DO THIS. THIS IS MY FAVORITE EVENT THAT WE DO. JUST BEING ABLE TO SHARE THIS OPPORTUNITY, SHARE THIS EXPERIENCE WITH THE KIDS, THEIR FAMILIES, SEE HOW EXCITED THEY ARE. HONESTLY, I THINK I WAS MORE EXCITED TO SHOP FOR HER THAN SHE WAS FOR HERSELF. BUT IT’S SUPER EXCITING TO DO THIS AND IT’S DEFINITELY MY FAVORITE THING TO DO. IT’S SPECIAL TO ALL OF US. OBVIOUSLY, IT’S A SMALL PART OF OUR DAY AND JUST SOMETHING THAT WE CAN DO JUST TO KIND OF, YOU KNOW, BE A PART OF THE COMMUNITY. SO I MEAN, OUR GUYS LOVE IT WHEN WE KNOW THAT, YOU KNOW, THIS DAY IS COMING WHERE WE GET TO GO IN THE COMMUNITY AND SPEND TIME WITH FAMILIES AND KIDS AND TAKE THEM SHOPPING. YOU KNOW, WE’RE EXCITED ABOUT IT. WALKING AROUND THE STORE TODAY. IT WAS CLEAR THAT BOTH THE PLAYERS AND THE KIDS WERE ENJOYING THEMSELVES AS THEY ALL HAD SMILES FROM EAR TO EAR. THE THUNDER HAVE SEVERAL MORE EVENTS TO HELP THE COMMUNITY AND THOSE IN NEED THI
Oklahoma City Thunder spreads holiday cheer with local families
The Oklahoma City Thunder teamed up with Sunbeam Family Services to bring holiday joy to local grandparents and their grandchildren through a special shopping event.
Updated: 10:22 PM CST Dec 4, 2025
The Oklahoma City Thunder basketball team joined forces with Sunbeam Family Services’ Grandparents Raising Grandkids program on Thursday to bring holiday cheer to local families by shopping with children and helping them pick out presents.>> Download the KOCO 5 app | Subscribe to KOCO 5’s YouTube channelFor many of the participating families, the event was a memorable experience. Sammi Pershica, a grandparent involved in the program, expressed her gratitude.”I just got out of the hospital, so it was… it was a blessing. It was just a joy to be here and to watch and to get, and then to see what the boys got. I just loved it. Just very, very, very thankful for it. I mean, from the bottom of my heart, I was that much appreciative,” said Pershica.Sarah Rahhal, CEO of Sunbeam Family Services, highlighted the importance of the interaction between the players and the children. “Just that interaction, and I heard Lu Dort telling a guy, ‘I’m checking on your grades in a couple months, and we’re here for you.’ I think them knowing that they’re seen, they’re valued… they are… just known in this community and supported by such a wonderful organization,” she said.For the Thunder players, the event is a highlight of their season. Thunder forward Jaylin Williams shared his enthusiasm. “Yeah. It’s awesome to be able to do this. This is my favorite event that we do. Just being able to share this opportunity, share this experience with their kids, their families, see how excited. Honestly, I think I was more excited to shop for her than she was for herself. It’s super exciting to do this, and it’s definitely my favorite thing to do,” Williams said.Thunder guard Aaron Wiggins echoed Williams’ sentiment.”It’s special to all of us. Obviously, it’s a small part of our day, and just something that we can do just to kind of you know be a part of the community. I mean, our guys love it. When we know that this day is coming, and we get to go in the community and spend time with families and kids and take them shopping, we’re excited about it,” Wiggins said.Get the latest news stories of interest by clicking here.The smiles on the children’s faces were evident throughout the event, and the Thunder has several more events planned for the holiday season to continue supporting kids and families in need.Top HeadlinesOklahoma schools close, move to virtual learning due to winter weather ThursdayUPDATES: Snow begins to move out, but slick conditions possible‘Thank you for my son’: Family reunites with first responders who saved 4-year-oldPolice release new information on death of 6-year-old boy hit by Oklahoma City school busWATCH: Sky 5 shows snow condition across Oklahoma City
OKLAHOMA CITY —
The Oklahoma City Thunder basketball team joined forces with Sunbeam Family Services’ Grandparents Raising Grandkids program on Thursday to bring holiday cheer to local families by shopping with children and helping them pick out presents.
>> Download the KOCO 5 app | Subscribe to KOCO 5’s YouTube channel
For many of the participating families, the event was a memorable experience.
Sammi Pershica, a grandparent involved in the program, expressed her gratitude.
“I just got out of the hospital, so it was… it was a blessing. It was just a joy to be here and to watch and to get, and then to see what the boys got. I just loved it. Just very, very, very thankful for it. I mean, from the bottom of my heart, I was that much appreciative,” said Pershica.
Sarah Rahhal, CEO of Sunbeam Family Services, highlighted the importance of the interaction between the players and the children.
“Just that interaction, and I heard Lu Dort telling a guy, ‘I’m checking on your grades in a couple months, and we’re here for you.’ I think them knowing that they’re seen, they’re valued… they are… just known in this community and supported by such a wonderful organization,” she said.
For the Thunder players, the event is a highlight of their season.
Thunder forward Jaylin Williams shared his enthusiasm. “Yeah. It’s awesome to be able to do this. This is my favorite event that we do. Just being able to share this opportunity, share this experience with their kids, their families, see how excited. Honestly, I think I was more excited to shop for her than she was for herself. It’s super exciting to do this, and it’s definitely my favorite thing to do,” Williams said.
Thunder guard Aaron Wiggins echoed Williams’ sentiment.
“It’s special to all of us. Obviously, it’s a small part of our day, and just something that we can do just to kind of you know be a part of the community. I mean, our guys love it. When we know that this day is coming, and we get to go in the community and spend time with families and kids and take them shopping, we’re excited about it,” Wiggins said.
Get the latest news stories of interest by clicking here.
The smiles on the children’s faces were evident throughout the event, and the Thunder has several more events planned for the holiday season to continue supporting kids and families in need.
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