"Shopping carts took off in every direction, speeding through aisles and cutting corners like a NASCAR race.

"Come on, baby! Let's roll!" one mother told her daughter as they navigated the maze of toys during a shopping spree hosted by Texans Pro Bowl wide receiver Andre Johnson.

A few days later at a similar event, this time hosted by Rockets center Brad Miller, Tracie Federwisch knew exactly what she wanted: a bicycle and electric guitar.

"Never had nothing like this before," her grandfather, Cecil Federwisch, said as they waited in line to check out. "This is something they can remember later on in life."

In the spirit of the holidays, the city's five professional sports teams — Rockets, Texans, Astros, Dynamo and Aeros — flexed their philanthropic muscles by participating in an assortment of events benefitting local charities and nonprofit organizations. Athletes such as Johnson and Miller handpicked causes that are close to their hearts. Others, such as Dynamo defender Mike Chabala, lent their celebrity to help raise awareness.

Many of the pro franchises don't stop giving when the holidays end. In what has become a year-round endeavor, team foundations such as the Houston Texans Foundation, Clutch City Foundation and Astros In Action have provided everything from scholarships to after-school programs and facilities to play sports.

Miller, in his first season with the Rockets, continued his tradition of hosting a holiday shopping spree for 20 children who participate in the Big Brothers Big Sisters program. Along with the shopping spree, Miller, a former "little brother" in the program, also purchased 30 season tickets for every home game — roughly 1,200 tickets for the entire season — to be distributed within the organization."