Kenard Lang spreading holiday cheer

Football season can bring out the best. Bright House Sports Network has been privy to showcasing some of the best athletes in the country on our Subway Restaurants Game of the Week. We've seen some amazing plays and some great games. But this time of year also brings out the best in people.

Like Kenard Lang.

You can’t miss his bright orange shirt, wooly beard or 6-foot-5 stature. The Jones High head football coach has transformed from barking out plays on the sidelines to bringing holiday cheer.

The Kenard Lang Foundation teamed up with the Wal-Mart in Ocoee and NFL Charities to give 30 lucky kids from the Walt Disney World Boys & Girls Club in Pine Hills a chance to shop for the holidays. They were each given a $75 shopping pass. The retail regiment marched the isles looking for snacks, toys and new gear.

"Boys & Girls Club of Pine Hills, that's where I grew from when I was younger and it's all in good fun,” said Lang, whose foundation has been taking kids shopping during the holidays for the last nine years. “I'm able to do it. I just want to give to them and most importantly, teach them that it's great to give."

Wardrobing was key. But it was also a great way to get presents for others. Club Youth of the Year Martine Louis got everything she needed to make her gifts.

"That's a survival box. Some of the things were like a Snickers so you can have something as sweet as you, a jolly rancher so you can laugh when I'm not there, a tissue to dry your tears when I can't do it for you," Louis said.

14-year-old Demetrius Pickens didn’t have his present ideas picked out to the tee but he was sure to be “looking for gifts for my family and a few for my friends.”

“Hey, go buy something that you like. Go buy something for your mom, your dad, your sister and brother. Put a smile on their face,” Lang said with a big grin on his face and his youngest daughter in tow.

“This is the perfect way to give everybody something because if I had to come up with the money myself then I probably wouldn’t be able to get everything I wanted,” Louis said thankfully.



(baynews9.com)