KU women's basketball team to spread $11K of holiday cheer at hospital Dec. 15

LAWRENCE -- The University of Kansas women's basketball team will spread a little Jayhawk holiday cheer Monday at Lawrence Memorial Hospital, where team members will distribute T-shirts, posters and other KU paraphernalia to patients.

This is the 11th year that the team, led by Coach Marian Washington, has participated in the Crimson and Blue Holiday Project. Each year, the KU Trademark Licensing Office collects donations of licensed KU merchandise for distribution during the event. This year, 1,300 items with an estimated retail value of $11,000 were collected, according to Paul Vander Tuig, KU's licensing administrator.

"I see the project as an opportunity for the university to give something back to the community by working with the women's basketball team on this effort," Vander Tuig says. "Each year, the expression you see on patients' faces when they are given an item by Coach Washington or a team member makes it all worthwhile."

Among other items, team members will hand out posters, T-shirts, playing cards, hats and sweatshirts to hospital patients. The visit is scheduled for 2:30 p.m. and usually takes about two hours. Several donated items were also given to the Lawrence Toys for Tots holiday sale taking place this weekend at Hy-Vee, 4000 W. 6th St.

KU's licensing program collects fees from manufacturers authorized to use the Jayhawk logo and other KU trademarks. Royalties from the program, totalling over $750,000 last year, help fund student and student-athlete scholarships.