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Devin White’s ‘Great White Christmas’ party celebrates foster families

The event, hosted by the Bucs linebacker and his foundation, brings together over 100 foster kids and their families for a winter-wonderland-themed party.
 
Published Dec. 21, 2022|Updated Dec. 21, 2022

Crossover Church in North Tampa got “live” Tuesday night.

It was the site of Devin White’s second annual “Great White Christmas” party, hosted by the Bucs linebacker, who wears No. 45, and his Get Live 45 Foundation.

In partnership with A Door of Hope Tampa Bay, a Christian foster care licensing agency, the event brought together over 100 foster kids and their 23 families for the winter-wonderland-themed party.

“Growing up, I was in a great family and we really celebrated Christmas and we really enjoyed being around family,” said White. “And for those kids, just making sure they have the same feeling and enjoy the same things.”

The festive evening included Christmas games; a catered Carrabba’s dinner; prizes, including signed jerseys and Xbox consoles; and even some “snow.”

But the most exciting part of the night for the kids was opening presents they had asked for on their wish lists.

Laney Gibney is a mom to two daughters who she and her husband adopted last week, as well as a foster son. Gibney had the joy of watching her 11-year-old daughter, Aylah, open her gift of an American Girl Doll that she had desperately been wanting.

“It’s her thing,” said Gibney. “And she opened the wrapping paper of her first gift and saw the red star and she just lit up. She went crazy. She was so excited.”

Reactions like that are the reason White started “Great White Christmas” in the first place, he said.

“Just to see the smiles on the kids’ faces, even the families — the adults, they were very thankful,” White said. “It was just a great experience for me overall.”

Due to the NFL’s COVID protocols last year, White wasn’t able to attend the inaugural event in person. He was thrilled to join them this time around.

“Once they told me the restrictions were uplifted,” he said, “I told them I would see them whenever they would do the party.”

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