CINCINNATI- University of Cincinnati student-athletes and staff are participating in the Shoes for Haiti shoe drive to raise funds and necessities for the people of Haiti. The fundraiser is currently running through Sept. 13.

The goal of the shoe drive is to help provide footwear to people in need in the country of Haiti and to encourage UC students to consider performing a service trip abroad. Men’s track and field athlete Brian Barney (South Holland, Ill./Seton Academy) started the project after participating in a service trip to Haiti in December 2013 where he noticed the number of people without sufficient footwear. The shoes will be shipped to Croix-des-Bouquets, Haiti, which is just outside of Port-au-Prince.
Other campus organizations participating in the drive are Serve Beyond Cincinnati, the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC), Theta Phi Alpha Sorority, Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc. and Sigma Chi Fraternity.

To make a contribution, donation bins will be placed on the 4th floors of the Steger Life Center and the Lindner Athletics Center.

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The children buzzed with anticipation at the Steven and Alexandra Cohen Children’s Medical Center in New Hyde Park when word spread of a Thursday afternoon visit from New York Islanders’ forward Colin McDonald.

“One patient, who was in our bone marrow transplant unit, when we told her (McDonald) was coming, she literally gasped,” said Amanda Filippazzo, a Child Life Assistant at the hospital. “It was the first time in a while we’ve seen her smile and really just light up, and a lot of times they were so excited when he walked in the room.”

McDonald spent the afternoon meeting and interacting with young fans in different wings of the hospital, signing autographs and brightening the days of the patients. The visits from Islanders’ players give children the opportunity to forget about the hospital atmosphere for a while and enjoy the company of a professional hockey player. Every smile stuck with McDonald.

“These kids are going through such tough times and just to see them smile for just the little bit of time I’m with them, it’s the least we could do, and it’s one way for us to give back to the community,” McDonald said.

McDonald visited “The Lion’s Den,” a playroom on a general pediatric floor. Eagerly awaiting the Islander, 12-year-old Joshua Martinez challenged McDonald to a game of NBA 2K12.

“I won’t go too hard on you,” Martinez said with a grin while setting up the game on his Xbox 360.

I’m just trying to make somewhat of a difference no matter how small it might be. – Colin McDonald
McDonald managed to keep the game close, but ultimately surrendered to Martinez 11-8. Nearby, 10-year-old Ian Chan took a homework break to thumb through a new set of Islanders trading cards. Chan, a newly converted Islanders fan, plans on rooting for McDonald and the Islanders during the upcoming season.

“It’s pretty cool,” Chan said. “I never really watch hockey, but it’s pretty cool to meet a professional hockey player.”

Source: http://islanders.nhl.com/club/news.htm?id=730221&navid=DL|NYI|home

McDonald especially enjoyed meeting 15-year-old Laura Uribe, who clutched a new Islanders teddy bear and t-shirt. The visit reminded the forward how lucky he is to be in a position to give back.

“I’m just trying to take advantage of the situation we’re in being a professional athlete and trying to make somewhat of a difference no matter how small it might be,” he said.

What seems small to McDonald is huge for the kids at Cohen’s. McDonald left the children in high spirits and ready to cheer on their new favorite Islanders’ player when the puck drops in October.

Westborough – Whether it’s providing funding or just cheering them on in good times or bad, student athletes depend on the support of their community. On Aug. 19, members of the various Westborough High School (WHS) athletic teams returned the favor, by participating in the second annual “Rangers Give Back.”

Olivia Natale, the organizer of this year’s event, said that the goal of “Rangers Give Back” is to spend a day volunteering in town to thank the community for their support of Westborough athletics.
“It’s a way that we can show our gratitude towards their tremendous impact,” she said.

The volunteer event is a “great way for students to come together and bond,” especially right before the sports team tryouts and the school year begins, she noted.

Natale is a rising sophomore at WHS and a member of the soccer, indoor track, and outdoor track teams. Her sister, Mia, who graduated in 2013, helped organize last year’s premier event.

WHS Athletic Director Johanna DiCarlo asked Natale if she would be willing to organize this year’s “Rangers Give Back.”

“I was ecstatic, not only because my sister had worked so hard on it last year, but I was really inspired by it and I thought it was an amazing way to get the teams bonded and to show our gratitude to the community for everything they have done for the athletics,” said Natale.

Katie Bretta, a rising junior and a member of the soccer and track and field teams, also organized the event, coordinating a service project in which students performed yard work for senior citizens. She enjoyed seeing the teams come together, especially before tryouts, held at the end of that week.

The event this year was expected to draw at least 100 students to participate in volunteer work ranging from mulching, gardening, and cleaning grounds to filing paper and picking up trash. Athletes worked at the Westborough Department of Public Works, Beaumont Rehabilitation and Skilled Nursing Center at Westborough, the Forbes Municipal Building, and all six Westborough public schools.

Bretta said that she was “happy to see the program just as big as last year.”

According to Natale, the projects at WHS included cleaning up the fitness center and touching up the murals inside the school that were painted as part of last year’s “Rangers Give Back.”
“It’s really just to make everything more beautiful and give people a helping hand,” said Natale.

DiCarlo, who coordinated the service project logistics, said that last year’s event “set the tone of the school culture” since students “recognized the importance of giving back” and not volunteering merely out of self-interest.

All participants received a “Rangers Give Back” t-shirt that they wore while serving the community. Natale said that they are helping their local t-shirt and apparel business at the same time, since there are many participants who gave the company publicity by wearing the shirts.

Natale cited her favorite aspect of the event was the awareness of community support.

“It’s an eye opener for a lot of people to realize truly how much the community does for Ranger athletics,” she said.

She said that the athletics program is greatly supported by the Westborough Athletic Boosters Association and by community members who attend games.

Natale emphasized how the program is more than just an opportunity to build one’s resume or academic career.

“Sports gives [students] so much joy and a deep breath away from school. We can thank the community for that because [otherwise] we wouldn’t have that funding or support,” she added

At the end of their volunteer work, the athletes came together for an ice cream social sponsored by the Westborough Boosters.

Source: http://www.communityadvocate.com/2014/08/25/athletes-volunteer-for-second-annual-rangers-give-back/

COLUMBUS, Ga. – Hundreds of Columbus State students spent Saturday morning giving back to their community during the annual Day of Service. The 400 volunteers spent time at more than 15 locations across the city. They helped clean up trash at the Hooch and cleared sticks and limbs at Columbus Botanical Gardens. A number of the volunteers were student athletes. They say this Day of Service helped with team building.

“We’re communicating more. It helps us build up and perform better when it comes to the season,” said track runner Norbert Ferrell.

Many of the students were excited to give back to the community that supports them and really make a difference Saturday afternoon.

Source: http://www.wrbl.com/story/26353662/csu-students-give-back-during-annual-day-of-service

Stony Brook, N.Y. – On Saturday, Sept. 20, Stony Brook Athletics and The Miracle League of Long Island will team up to hit another homer at the park and they are looking for Stony Brook students to be buddies for the day.

Many Stony Brook student-athletes across multiple sports have already volunteered to be a buddy, but the #Seawolves want the student population at large to volunteer, too. Students can fill out the registration form online and volunteer to be a buddy at one of two games on the 20th, either at 8:30 a.m., or 11 a.m.

The Miracle League of Long Island’s mission is to establish and sustain baseball programs for people of all ages with disabilities. The objective is to provide an opportunity for those individuals to experience the joy and benefits that come from playing America’s national pastime. The Miracle League also aims to help the league’s players develop social skills and increase self-esteem, while promoting community support and sponsorship for the league.

Buddies are a vital part of the success of the Miracle League. Each Miracle League player is assigned a buddy for each game. The buddy is there to protect the player from balls, assist the player in batting and running the bases, and to be a friend on and off the field. Buddies receive a Miracle League shirt for their participation.

To Read More visit: http://www.goseawolves.org/genrel/090414aaa.html