Students from the CREC Two Rivers Magnet Middle School girls’ basketball team spent Sunday, March 2 volunteering at the Winter Special Olympics at the Simsbury International Skating Center of Connecticut. The Special Olympics athletes were competing in figure skating and speed skating the day of the event.

The mission of Special Olympics is to provide year-round sports training and athletic competition in a variety of Olympic-type sports for children and adults with intellectual disabilities, giving them continuing opportunities to develop physical fitness, demonstrate courage, experience joy and participate in a sharing of gifts, skills and friendship with their families, other Special Olympics athletes and the community. The CREC Two Rivers volunteers assisted with arts and crafts, lunch service, and took part in the cheer squad. The student-athletes also had the opportunity to meet with several Special Olympics athletes and hear about their athletic successes.

The middle school athletics program at the CREC Two Rivers Magnet School, in addition to four other CREC middle schools, was started just last year. The program was carefully designed to be an extension of the district’s academic programming, including using athletics as an avenue to get CREC students more involved in the community. “Special Olympics would not exist today – and could not have been created – without the time, energy, commitment and enthusiasm of its diverse volunteers,” explains the Special Olympics Connecticut website.

“It was an extremely fun day for all that took part,” said Middle School Girls’ Basketball Coach, John Stinchon. The students told Stinchon that they enjoyed the opportunity so much, they hope to participate again in future Special Olympics events. Participating students reside in many surrounding towns, including East Hartford, Glastonbury, Bloomfield, Hartford, South Windsor, Wethersfield, and Manchester.

Source: http://articles.courant.com/2014-03-31/community/hcrs-87325-east-hartford-20140331_1_crec-students-magnet-middle-school-winter-special-olympics

WANTAGH, N.Y. (Mar. 29, 2014) – Members of the LIU Post field hockey team took the Polar Plunge into the cold water at Tobay Beach in Wantagh, N.Y. on Saturday. The Pioneers raised nearly $1,000 in a week to help fund the Special Olympics.

“We’re so proud to have formed a great partnership with the Special Olympics,” said Head Coach Raenee Savin (Nesconset, N.Y.). “Last weekend, many of the girls got certified as SO coaches. This week, we raised close to $1,000, which will go directly towards sending athletes with special needs to the state games.”

Savin later added: “During our season, we will be running a fundraiser at a home game and have the Olympians participate in halftime activities. Then, in February, we will be hosting a send-off party for members of the floor hockey team going to the winter games. By working so closely with the Special Olympics, it gives us a greater appreciation for being able to play the sport we love without having to face the adversity these brave athletes contend with on a daily basis.”

Proceeds from the event helped fund athletes of the Special Olympics in New York. For more information, click here.

Flushing, N.Y. – The Queens College baseball team dodged cold weather and a busy schedule last week to take a day to volunteer at the Queens Botanical Garden.

Members of the baseball team helped clean up old, dead shrubs and bushes throughout the park. They then went around and helped staff members with planting new flowers and sowing new seeds in anticipation of the Garden’s opening to the public later in the spring.

Sophomore pitcher, John Dondero, reflected on the event: “To help prep a place that gives city folks some fresh air and flowers is nice. I know it will give them a welcomed respite. It’s rewarding to help out the Queens community.”

The QC baseball team returns to action on Wednesday, March 26, when they face Dominican on the road.

Source: http://www.queensknights.com/sports/bsb/2013-14/releases/bsballqueensbotanic

Originally created in 2008, the “Leaf Relief” program was designed to unify the entire Goshen College Athletic Department – more than 300 student-athletes, coaches, and staff – to lead an effort to serve others in the spirit of Goshen College and its core values, which include servant leadership. It gives student-athletes a chance to make a difference in tangible ways and “give back” to the community.

The three main focuses of the project involve community service, raising awareness for worthy causes, and raising funds for humanitarian efforts. Over the past six years, thousands of dollars have been raised for charities and teams have done projects in multiple states as well as sent funds and supplies to multiple countries. Here is a look at some of the most recent projects.

Lymphoma Awareness Night
The Maple Leafs held a special “Stand Up To Cancer” awareness night at a men’s basketball game, raising awareness and funds for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. They also pulled off an emotional win over Taylor with many in attendance “standing up” for men’s basketball head coach Neal Young, who is currently undergoing treatment for T-cell lymphoma.

Feed My Starving Children
The baseball team worked with Feed My Starving Children, an organization that sends food to nearly 70 countries worldwide. They served at a MobilePack location in Nappanee, putting together meals. “This was a great opportunity for our guys to contribute to something so much bigger than themselves and they greatly enjoyed the experience,” head coach Alex Childers said.

Greencroft Christmas
The women’s basketball team hosted a Holiday party for residents at Greencroft Retirement Community. They decorated cookies, participated in Christmas themed games, and sang Christmas carols. “Service work is so important because it’s out way of giving back to a community that has given so much to us,” sophomore Liz Tecca (Parchment, Mich.) said. “We are beyond blessed in our lives at Goshen College and getting the opportunity to spend some time with the people at Greencroft allowed us to show our appreciation.”

Reading in Schools
Student-athletes from multiple sports (soccer, tennis, volleyball and basketball) were part of “Reading Day” at Concord Southside Elementary School. They read books to dozens of children and also had a chance to play their respective sports with them. Several student-athletes also took part in “Real Men Read,” a similar program in the Goshen schools.

Goshen Schools Health Day
Led by student-athletes, a group teamed with the GC Kinesiology Department to put on a health day at Goshen Community Schools. The group educated Goshen families on wellness, created opportunities to increase fitness, increased awareness of community partners and resources, and led education efforts on healthy nutrition opportunities in family life.

Cross Country Service Days
While teams prepared for their years, the cross country team spent several days of their pre-season training doing service. Among their projects, they helped out around campus pulling weeds and clearing invasive species and worked with The Window packaging supplies for those in need.

Free Basketball Clinics
During the preseason, the Maple Leaf men’s basketball team performed free basketball clinics at Prairie View and Chandler Elementary School.

Check out some pictures from Leaf Relief projects over the last few years.

Source: http://www.goleafs.net/article/11081.php

Flushing, N.Y. – NYC Parks & Recreation recently hosted the National Girls & Women in Sports Day 2014 event at the Al Oerter Recreation Center and the Queens College women’s soccer team attended to help out and promote the cause.

The day-long event featured sports clinics, fitness classes, prizes, games and guest speakers. Many young girls from the local metropolitan area attended the event with their parent to join in the festivities. For its part, the QC soccer team assisted with the event, worked with the children and passed along a few tips, as they introduced them to soccer, played games, and had fun with all the young girls.

It was a rewarding time for the Knights as Itzel Guzman reflected, “It was a great experience being able to interact with girls that enjoy soccer at a young age.” Her teammate, Nicolette Scrozzo, added, “Being with the kids, teaching and playing the sport we all love was great. I look forward to returning next year.”

Head Coach Carl Christian summed up the event best when he said, “This was a great opportunity for our team to give back to the local community and share their passion with the young girls. It was a great way for them to serve as positive role models for these aspiring athletes.”

The Queens College women’s soccer team finished the 2013 season with an overall record of 11-5-1 and advanced to the East Coast Conference playoffs.