Arenas Contiunes Annual Christmas Dream with "Shopportunity"

WASHINGTON, D.C. - The 7th annual Gilbert's Christmas Dream Thursday, December 2 at Toys"R"Us in Rockville kicked off the Washington Wizards annual 12 days of Holiday Cheer program. All-Star guard Gilbert Arenas took five lucky foster children from the metropolitan Washington region to Toys"R"Us and gave them the "shopportunity" of a lifetime. Each child was able to select presents of their choice compliments of Arenas and his Zero Two Hero foundation.

The 5 eager youngsters were given one shopping cart and free rein over the toy-filled aisles. Gilbert Arenas and members of his foundation helped the children gather their dream toys and gifts. Popular choices were Play Station 3's, Nerf guns and action figures. One budding musician even picked up a new guitar!

Of course, Wizards dancers were on-site to cheer on the holiday action. Children lived their Christmas dream: running up and down the super sized toy store, picking out anything and everything they wanted. At the end of it all Gilbert Arenas stepped up to live his Christmas Dream: the chance to bring a little extra holiday spirit to the community that took him in a little under a decade ago.

"It's very important for me to give back," said Arenas. "Some kids aren't fortunate enough to get gifts or be around family during Christmas. When I first got here, I came up with the idea for Gil's Christmas Dream.

Every year I try to do something different; it's really evolved over the years. Just being able to give back is a great blessing." Every year Gilbert Arenas is proud to give back through Gilbert's Christmas Dream and his Zero Two Hero Foundation.

The Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments child welfare program bolsters local agencies' foster care and adoption recruitment efforts to attract loving homes for the region's foster children. In the past, Arenas has also hosted a roller skating party, movie night and a luncheon at ESPNZone.

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