The Mavs Foundation wrapped up its Season of Giving with a bow on Sunday night by partnering with SCHEELS to host a shopping spree for area families in need this holiday season.

SCHEELS worked with one of Denton County’s largest non-profits, Christian Community Action (CCA) Lewisville, to select four deserving families to receive $500 store gift cards for each family member. A total of $7,500 in spending money was distributed to the 15 children and parents among the four participating families.

Mavs players Dereck Lively II and P.J. Washington Jr. joined Champ, the ManiAACs and D-Town Crew at SCHEELS in The Colony to surprise the recipients and help them shop for everything on their wish lists.

“Having the players come out to be here with four families from our organization to shop and do Christmas with their families— some of our families were homeless six months ago,” said Gilbert Montez, CEO of Christian Community Action.

“Our organization helped them find a home, but this is an overwhelming, overflowing Christmas for them, more than even I could have imagined, so I can’t imagine how they feel!”

Sunday night’s shopping spree with CCA families was the second Mavs Foundation Season of Giving event for Washington and Lively last weekend after also attending Cookies with Santa on Friday.

“We hope people feel good,” said Lively. “[It’s important] giving back to people who aren’t able to be in great positions like I am— not able to put everything that they can into gifts or little presents here and there because they have to take care of bills, they have to take care of putting food on the table. So, we’re just here to try to lighten the loads for the Christmas holiday and trying to make sure they feel the Christmas spirit.”

Families split up to cover the store’s massive footprint, darting first to the toy and sporting goods sections before heading downstairs for new shoes, winter coats and Mavs gear.

“I had a little girl shopping with me, and it just warmed my heart picking out all her little toys and seeing her smiling and interacting with me,” said Washington.

“I think it’s way more important to [be involved in the community] than being highlighted on the court. Being active in the community goes a lot farther than being able to play a game, so for me, this is a lot more important than being on the court.”

In addition to hosting families for dinner and the shopping spree, SCHEELS donated $10,000 to CCA to support their all-encompassing services for North Texas families struggling with poverty and homelessness.

“A rising tide lifts all ships,” said Alex Koob, marketing lead at The Colony SCHEELS. “If we help impact the community around us, it helps everybody. I know in this area, our community is dead set on lifting everybody up, and organizations like CCA that we and the Mavs can partner with— we couldn’t think of anything better than to help them do their incredible work— it benefits us all.”

The Mavs Foundation and SCHEELS will team up for one more act of kindness before the new year when the Mavs hold a SCHEELS Toy Scramble during halftime at the team’s Christmas Day game at American Airlines Center to benefit even more North Texas families in need.