LEBANON, Tenn. – Cumberland’s (Tenn.) fall student-athletes participated in a pair of service projects along with Leadership Training during their first days on campus over the last week.

The volleyball, men’s and women’s cross country and men’s and women’s soccer teams reported to campus on August 7 and took part in three hours of Leadership Training the following day. That afternoon they also visited the Next Step Resource Center in Lebanon, moving furniture and appliances and sorting household items.

Almost 100 returning football players checked in this past Monday and took part in Leadership Training on Tuesday. That afternoon they spent approximately three hours cleaning up and adding new materials to Don Fox Park in Lebanon.

Another 40 or so football players check in Thursday and the first official football practice is scheduled for Friday. The remainder of the Cumberland student-athletes are set to report on August 21, with Leadership Training and a workday at the Wilson County Fair scheduled for August 22.

Source: http://www.mid-southconference.org/article/3415.php

For the third consecutive year, Hope College student-athletes took a break from their summer activities to serve for an afternoon at Special Days Camps in Montague, Michigan.

Special Days Camps provide the traditional camping opportunities for children who have experienced cancer and their siblings for two weeks in the summer.

The first week is dedicated to siblings, while the following week houses children who currently have cancer, or have battled in the past.

Both weeks engage kids with fun activities that allow kids to be “just kids.”

Many of the campers have been attending for years. The community they have established is something Hope athletes were grateful to experience.

“I’ve never witnessed a group of people that cared for each other on such a deep level, so to see that was incredible,” said Ryan VanderPloeg, a senior lacrosse player. “The best part about the community was watching these older kids look out for the younger kids. It wasn’t weird, it wasn’t strange, and it wasn’t like they were trying to be parents.

“They just knew what these kids were going through and what they will go through and that connection was something extremely powerful to experience firsthand.”

While at camp, Hope athletes were placed on teams with campers to participate in a life-size game of the traditional card game, “Spoons.” They also joined the campers for a a swim in the lake, arts and crafts, more camp games, and dinner time.

To cap off a great day, Special Days Campers had the opportunity to give Hope athletes a pie in the face.

Hope athletes enjoyed their time interacting with the kids throughout the day and were greatly impacted by their experiences.

Junior swimmer Jorgie Watson said, “Special Days Camp has awesome campers, staff, and atmosphere. These kids have had a tough life so to see them happy, having fun, and smiling made the experience amazing. It was nice to give back to the community even if it meant getting pied in the face, playing capture the flag, and gaga ball. I can’t wait to go back next year!”

Source: http://athletics.hope.edu/sports/2014-15/SpecialDaysCamp/SpecialDaysCamp#.U_IEi3Cwc4M.twitter

PHILADELPHIA, Pa. – Rising sophomore Abigail Bensley (Malvern, Pa.) of the Southern Connecticut State University gymnastics team recently volunteered to participate in a genomics research study for the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia.

This event 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 4,000 hours of their time to numerous outreach efforts, both on-campus and in Greater New Haven, during the 2013-14 academic year.

Source: http://www.southernctowls.com/news/2014/8/11/GEN_0811143842.aspx

Through a partnership with Smart Beginnings of the Martinsville-Henry County area and Patrick Henry Community College’s Athletic Department, Sharon Martin’s Family Child Care Home received a new paint job on July 30. PHCC’s Athletic Director Brian Henderson and other staff from the athletic department took time out to volunteer and paint the new additional child care space.

“PHCC pulled together a team of volunteers to paint for Mrs. Sharon Martin and she was so thankful for the help in getting this new activity room ready for the children in her care,” said Melanie McLarty, director of Martinsville-Henry County Smart Beginnings.

Joining Henderson in painting was Head Men’s Basketball Coach Kenny Wade, Athletic Trainer JR Smith, and Head Men’s Soccer Coach Enda Crehan.

“We at PHCC Athletics feel we can’t require our student-athletes to do something we wouldn’t do,” Henderson said. “One of our major objectives is to give back to our community, which we encourage our student- athletes to do as much as possible, for as long as possible. What better way for us to show them how much we love serving our community, by getting out there and performing the service ourselves.”

Partnering with United Way and Smart Beginnings is nothing new to Henderson, PHCC student-athletes, and the rest of the athletic staff.

“This is not the frst time Coach Brian has stepped up and volunteered his time to help United Way and Smart Beginnings,” McLarty said. “Coach Brian has volunteered his time and talents coordinating volunteer projects on numerous occasions over the past year for United Way and Smart Beginnings.”

If you would like to reach out to Patrick Henry Community College Athletics for volunteering or community service, please contact Brian Henderson at ext. 0313/ bhenderson@patrickhenry.edu.

Source: http://ht.ly/AfYL2

CENTRAL ISLIP, NY – The East Coast Conference office and its 11 member institutions, including the University of the District of Columbia, combined to raise $21,104.48 for the Make-A-Wish Foundation over the 2013-14 academic year.

Make-A-Wish is a global charity that grants the wishes of children with life-threatening medical conditions to enrich the human experience with hope, strength and joy. In the spirit of service, NCAA Division II student-athletes, coaches, administrators, parents, fans, friends and communities across the country are working hard to make a difference in the lives of Make-A-Wish families through their fundraising efforts. Since inception, the NCAA Division II has raised more than $2.4 million in support of the Make-A-Wish mission.

Associate Director of Athletics for Marketing and Communication Matt Rienzo said the University of the District of Columbia, the ECC and all of Division II are committed to community service and engagement.

“We believe that community service and engagement are core components of the student-athlete experience,” Rienzo said. “Firebird student-athletes, coaches and staff worked very hard this past year, in conjunction with the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee, to host events to raise funds and awareness for the Make-A-Wish Foundation. We are pleased with the results of our efforts, and we look forward to assisting the Make-A-Wish Foundation in the future.”