Giants help spread holiday joy with housing

SAN FRANCISCO -- The various holiday functions conducted by teams throughout the professional sports landscape may seem like mere photo opportunities to a jaded public.

But in many cases, the hosts and guests aren't just observing a holiday. They're celebrating a partnership.

Such is the case with the Giants and Hamilton Family Center, one of seven homeless shelters and programs whose members or clients attended the ballclub's 18th holiday party on Tuesday at AT&T Park.

Hundreds of children and their families took over the first-base side of the ballpark's club level to have their faces painted, twist balloons into imaginative shapes and dive into multiple arts-and-crafts activities. Besides…