NEW HAVEN, Conn. – Erica Ridella (Warwick, N.Y.), of the Southern Connecticut State University women’s soccer team, participated in another session of the interactive athletic program with the children at the Wallingford Boys and Girls Club.

This program is just one example of many community outreach events that SCSU student-athletes will take part in as part of the Tim Greer Insurance Agency Community Service Cup.

Initiated in September, 2008, the ‘Community Service Cup’ program provides a competitive format that allows student-athletes to gain an enriched experience through engagement with the on-campus and local communities by supporting ventures of traditional citizens, campus community members and peer students and student-athletes. SCSU student-athletes volunteered more than 3,000 hours of their time to numerous outreach efforts, both on-campus and in Greater New Haven, during the 2012-13 academic year.

Source: http://www.southernctowls.com/news/2014/3/10/WSOC_0310142433.aspx

On Monday, the LIU Post men’s lacrosse team took some time over its spring break to donate more than 40 bags of clothing to Big Brothers Big Sisters of Long Island.

Incorporated in 1977, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Long Island has operated under the belief that inherent in every child is the ability to realize their endless potential. It makes meaningful, professionally supported matches between adult volunteers (“Bigs”) and children (“Littles”).

“Each year our program gathers items for those less fortunate,” Head Coach John Jez (Cortlandt Manor, N.Y.) stated. “We believe it is important for our program to look outside of our campus community and help those around us. This year, we collected over 40 bags of clothing items for Big Brothers Big Sisters of Long Island.”

For more information on Big Brothers Big Sisters of Long Island, please visit www.bbbsli.org.

Elaine Krebs’ rowing season won’t start until late March, but very little has held her back from making a splash in the community.

When she arrived at USC three years ago, Krebs brought a passion for volunteering in the local neighborhood. Logging 43 hours of outreach this year, she sits in the top three of all USC student-athletes for total service hours.

“I have loved volunteering for as long as I remember,” said Krebs. “I was raised in an active Catholic family. My sister and I were constantly reminded how much we were blessed, and how we should share those blessings with others.”

During February, Krebs served as an athlete ambassador at the Heritage Hall re-opening and hosted children with physical disabilities for a tour of the McKay Center.

Krebs’ fervor for the community has become contagious. Last December, she led her team to the Community Bowl at 32nd Street School. More recently, she spearheaded their involvement with SCORE Initiative partner RowLA, a youth rowing club aimed at empowering girls from underserved neighborhoods of Los Angeles.

In addition to team-based events, Krebs has worked diligently on her own personal volunteer projects, taking advantage of unique gifts to create positive social change.

Last fall, she worked closely with the Hope Street Family Center, teaching English classes through USC’s Joint Educational Project. She also volunteered at the Aquarium of the Pacific as a tour guide and translator. During the holiday season, she wrapped gifts that had been donated to Adopt-a-Family on campus.

“I know that God has given me many talents, only one of which is athleticism,” said Krebs. “I am also blessed with a passion for science and confidence in speaking, so I volunteer in order to make use of as many of my talents as I can.”

This spring, despite the demands of rowing’s competitive season, Krebs plans to remain involved with the California Science Center, working 5-7 hours each week as an exhibit host.

Source: http://www.usctrojans.com/sports/comm-outreach/spec-rel/030414aab.html

CLARKSVILLE — The University of the Ozarks’ Student-Athlete Advisory Committee recently collected and delivered canned goods to a local charity as part of the year-long American Southwest Conference’s Make A Change Canned Food drive.

U of O’s student led organization combined with the Student Life Office and Athletics Department to surpass their goal of 500 by collecting 700 cans of food to go to the Interfaith Service Network. The Interfaith Service Network is a support system for those in need within the Clarksville community, with 14 area churches assisting in the operation of the food pantry. Char Wofford of Interfaith assisted the U of O student-athletes on the day the canned food was delivered.

The ASC’s Make A Change Canned Food Collection is aimed at providing support for food pantry operations within the community of each conference member. The canned food collection project got underway in the fall semester and will continue through the end of NCAA Division III Week, April 7-13. Each of the ASC’s SAAC organizations are involved in determining the local agency or agencies they will provide the canned food collected at athletics and other events over the course of the 2013-14 school year. The SAAC organization collecting the highest number of canned food items on its own or as a joint project with other campus groups will be recognized by the ASC in late April.

“I am truly honored to lead one of the many conference SAAC groups and help with the annual Make A Change event,” said U of O SAAC President Whitney Lewis. “Every year, our group does its best to provide for those in need within our local community. We can do our part to assist those who come in contact with Interfaith Service Network. Interfaith does an outstanding job of providing those in need in terms of nourishment. Everyone in Ozarks’ SAAC contributed their share in making this tradition a success, and I couldn’t be more proud of our members.”

Each SAAC group within the ASC has conducted Make A Change campaigns over the past seven years. Since the 2006-07 year, the ASC has collectively donated over $56,689 in its loose coin drive to over 25 organizations. In 2013-14, the conference SAAC chose to redirect the Make A Change campaign efforts and assist with providing canned food items to local food pantry outlets.

Fans can track the Make A Change Canned Food Collection activities on the ASC campuses by following the ASC on Twitter (@ASC_sports) with the Twitter hashtag, #ASCMakeAChange.

Read more: The Courier – Your Messenger for the River Valley – Ozarks athletes assist Clarksville Interfaith Service Network

Source: http://www.couriernews.com/view/full_story/24706281/article-Ozarks-athletes-assist-Clarksville-Interfaith-Service-Network

Rockville Centre, N.Y. – In 2003, NCAA Division II formed an alliance with the Make-A-Wish Foundation in order to connect student-athletes directly to a charitable cause. Since then, student-athletes at NCAA Division II institutions nationwide have put their rivalries aside and channeled their competitive spirits toward a common goal – raising money for Make-A-Wish. For 2013, NCAA Division II chose five institutions that achieved exemplary fundraising results and rewarded them with the opportunity to host an on-campus wish party. The party allowed each institution to witness first-hand the life-changing impact of a wish. On Saturday, February 15, Molloy College, hosted one of the five celebrations, when Alexander, a 14-year-old boy from Brooklyn, N.Y., and his family came to campus.

“We are honored to have NCAA Division II on our team,” said Anne Travous, Corporate Alliances Manager at Make-A-Wish. “Each and every student-athlete participant in the alliance has made it possible for Make-A-Wish to grant more wishes for children with life-threatening medical conditions.”

Alexander arrived on campus and first met the members of Molloy’s men’s basketball team. At a press conference afterwards, he joined the team and was given his own No. 45 jersey, with “Alexander” stitched across the back. He took part in the team’s warm-up drills, pre-game locker room meeting and was introduced to the crowd as the team’s 6th Man at the end of the Lions’ starting lineup. He also threw up a ceremonial first tipoff. In between the warm-up drills and the starting lineups, Alexander was presented with tickets to a New York Knicks versus Miami Heat game in Miami, Florida, making his wish come true. The Make-A-Wish Foundation secured the airfare and game tickets for him and his family. He also received gear and apparel from Molloy and its opponent, St. Thomas Aquinas College. Once the game began, Alexander sat on the bench with his new teammates.

“This was a great day for our student-athletes, Molloy College and our athletic department,” said Molloy Director of Athletics Susan Cassidy-Lyke. “Seeing all their hard work come to fruition was so rewarding for the student-athletes and energizes them to do it again. It was great to be a part of this wonderful day for Alex.”

The NCAA Division II alliance has generated nearly $3 million dollars in total for Make-A-Wish; $517,000 in the 2013 fiscal year alone. Fundraising at each institution is coordinated by the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC), which is comprised of student-athletes from each sport.

In the 2012-13 academic year, the Molloy College Athletics Department raised over $12,000 for the Make-A-Wish Foundation, which was more than any other NCAA Division II institution.

To view a photo gallery of the day’s events, please click the link above or click here.

Provided by the Molloy Sports Information Department.