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Kyle Lowry teams up with Steven Stamkos to buy toys for families
The spirit of holiday giving transcends borders and Kyle Lowry is once again here to deliver his most important assist yet while in Tampa, Florida — the Raptors’ temporary home.
Tampa Bay Lightning captain Steven Stamkos and reigning Conn Smythe Trophy winner Victor Hedman each donated $5,000 to Metropolitan Ministries, an organization that aims to care for at-risk and homeless families in the Tampa area.
With Lowry and the Raptors quickly becoming embedded in the Tampa community, Stamkos reached out to the star point guard for an extra hand.
Victor Hedman and I just committed $5,000 each to help @MetroMinistries purchase toys for kids to open on Christmas morning. Honored to be a part of spreading hope to 50,000 struggling families this holiday season. #SpreadHope
— Steven Stamkos (@RealStamkos91) December 16, 2020
Lowry, as one would expect, quickly rose to Stamkos’ challenge.
@RealStamkos91 count me in! Thanks to you and the Tampa community for sharing your home with us this season.
I didn’t forget about you Toronto! I’ll be donating toys to @RedDoorFamilySh as well #LowryHolidayAssist— Kyle Lowry (@Klow7) December 16, 2020
Giving back to his community has always been of paramount importance to Lowry, especially around the holidays. For the past several years, Lowry and his family would host the Lowry’s Holiday Assist event, where they provided hundreds of underserved families with lavish dinners and a party.
Lowry has also been known to surprise children and take them on impromptu shopping sprees at Toys“R”Us. This year, as he’s done in the past, Lowry will donate toys to Toronto-area families through the Red Door Family Shelter.
Widely considered the greatest Raptor in franchise history for his on-court accomplishments — his rise to stardom mirroring the franchise’s own growth — Lowry has also embraced truly what it means to be the most important athlete in Toronto, by being an essential part of the community. Although the Raptors are currently in Florida, Lowry hasn’t forgotten his constituents back home in Canada, or in his hometown of Philadelphia, and Tampa now gets to benefit from a world-class human being in their vicinity.
This is championship swagger from Stamkos, Hedman and Lowry, understanding their positions of privilege and making the most of it.
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