UA RISE Program’s Holiday Events Include a Gene Stallings Visit

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – The University of Alabama’s RISE program will be involved in several holiday-related events/fundraisers, including a ornament signing session by former Alabama football coach Gene Stallings.

For more than 25 years the RISE program has helped prepare more than 2,300 children, both disabled and non-disabled, for public school classes. RISE holds accreditation from The National Association for the Education of Young Children; a prestigious recognition only achieved by 7 percent of early childhood programs nationwide.

Holiday events are as follows:

• Dec. 11, 6-8 p.m., Candlelife, University Mall, Tuscaloosa: Former Alabama football coach Gene Stallings will sign Alabama Football Ornaments endorsed by Stallings, with all proceeds going to RISE.
• Dec. 12, 11 a.m.-1 p.m., Candlelife Kiosk at Brookwood Village Mall, Birmingham: Stallings will sign ornaments.
• Dec. 12, 3:30-5:30 p.m., The Pavilion Gift Shop, Mobile: Stallings will sign ornaments.
• Dec. 12: 11 a.m., The RISE Bell Choir will perform at the Mercedes-Benz plant.
• Dec. 13: 1:15-2:30 p.m., The UA women’s gymnastics team will host a Christmas party for RISE children at the gymnastics arena.
• Dec. 9-24: The RISE Program is selling handmade individually boxed Christmas ornaments of different colors and designs. The ornaments are $15 each and are available at the Stallings Center on campus through Dec. 13 and at Candlelife at University Mall through Christmas Eve.

For more information, contact the RISE office at 205/348-7931.