Photo Gallery (images by Meghan Bushnell)

San Francisco, CA -- In what is becoming an increasingly competitive and at the same time gratifying holiday tradition, the Academy of Art University athletic department held their third annual Holiday Clothing Drive, and donated more clothes that ever before here in 2013. The Urban Knights Student Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) hosted the event, which benefits Larkin Street Youth Services, whose mission is to create a continuum of services that gets homeless youth off the street.

"The clothing drive is my favorite event of the year because it is a way for the Urban Knights to directly help our own community," said SAAC President and women's golfer Sierra Sanchez. "The best part about it is we all can come together as artist-athletes to give together; it's so easy to give this way. When we deliver the clothes to the Larkin Street Youth they're always so grateful. You can see it in their eyes and that's what the holidays are all about!"

The Urban Knights have donated more and more each year, and it has been different teams stepping up each time to take the lead. In 2011 there were 600 articles of clothing collected, but both last year and this year the number of articles donated soared over 1,200.

"We're proud to partner with Larkin Street for the third year in a row, donating clothes to San Francisco's homeless youth," said associate athletic director Meghan Bushnell. "The clothing drive was a true team effort from our artist-athletes, student body, coaches and administration. This is a humbling event for our artist-athletes to remember how fortunate they are with the resources and opportunity to embrace their academic and athletic passions as an Urban Knight. We're happy to know that we have helped warm up the holidays for our community's homeless youth."

After the baseball team led the donations the first two years, there was a new champion giver this year as the ART U men's soccer team had almost 300 articles by themselves. The volleyball squad came in a close second, followed by the men's basketball team and the Urban Knights' administrative staff.

"It was an amazing experience giving back to the community," said women's soccer goalkeeper Rachael Rempe.

Larkin Street Youth Services provides homeless, runaway and at-risk kids between the ages of 12 and 24 with the help they need to rebuild their lives. Each year, more than 3,600 kids walk through their doors seeking help, and Larkin Street gives them the care, nurturing, and support they need to resolve the immediate crises in their lives and take steps toward a brighter future beyond the streets.

"Each year, we have increased the amount that we collect and that says a lot about the students that we have here at the Academy," said SAAC vice president and baseball pitcher Nick Giotta. "It feels good to be able to get out in the community and help others."

Additionally, ART U SAAC offered a chance to eat pizza and watch the movie Elf following their Clothing Drive with proceeds going to Make-A-Wish Foundation, the official charity of the Pacific West Conference SAAC.

With the Urban Knights headed home for the holidays, they can know that they helped contribute to a worthy cause and that they continue to make a difference in the San Francisco community.