Sean Doolittle has a big beard and a bigger heart, as the Oakland A's pitcher and his girlfriend, Eireann Dolan, welcomed 17 Syrian refugee families for a Thanksgiving meal this past Thursday in Chicago.
The couple extended a helping hand to the refugees by hosting a dinner for families. Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel also attended the dinner.
"Chicago is so lucky to have 17 Syrian refugee families now officially calling it home," wrote Dolan, according to her Instagram page. "We thought we'd officially welcome them with one of our greatest American traditions, Thanksgiving. Thank you to Mayor Emanuel and Alderman Burke for joining the party! If you'd like to sponsor a refugee family in Chicago, link is in my bio #refugeeswelcome."
Syrian refugees have become a political issue after the Paris bombings. Many Republican politicians wanted to halt the influx of Syrian refugees into the U.S. after a Syrian passport was allegedly found near the body of one of the bombers.
"While the United States has the most generous refugee system in the world, the American people are rightly concerned about admitting Syrian refugees and the impact it would have on the safety of their families and neighbors," Virginia Representative Bob Goodlatte said in a statement, according to Fox News. "In light of these concerns, the majority of state governors have taken positions that reflect the views of their residents."
President Barack Obama, on the other hand, encouraged Americans to welcome Syrian refugees. "What makes America America is that we offer that chance. We turn Lady Liberty's light to the world, and widen our circle of concern to say that all God's children are worthy of our compassion and care. That's part of what makes this the greatest country on Earth,'' Obama declared, according to ABC News.
