WASHINGTON -- Merriment and cheer was shared at the Nationals Youth Baseball Academy during its annual holiday gift distribution.

One hundred of the Academy¡¯s Scholar Athletes from its after-school and youth baseball programs received a gift off wish lists they had created. Racing President Teddy Roosevelt was on hand to help distribute the gifts with Academy staff and volunteers.

The event has been supported by the local office of law firm Mintz since 2014. During this time, more than $20,000 in gifts has been contributed by its staff.

For the second year in the row, the gift distribution was held as a drive-through event instead of a holiday party to ensure health and safety.

The giveaway was part of the Academy¡¯s year-round programming for school-age children who live in Wards 7 and 8. Last month, the Academy provided 180 turkeys and 300 bags of produce for its fourth annual Turkeypalooza and participated in 10 Days of #GivingTuesday.

The Academy, which includes a nine-acre education and recreation campus in Ward 7, is the Washington Nationals Philanthropies¡¯ signature program.