QUEENS, N.Y. – Last Tuesday, Rachel Daly and Shea Connors of the St. John’s Women’s Soccer team spent their afternoon volunteering at the Madison Square Boys & Girls Club’s Back to School Bash, taking part in the Garden of Dreams event aimed at uplifting children in the Flatbush section of Brooklyn.
The event proved to be a star-studded affair, headlined by the no. 4 pick in the 2015 NBA Draft, New York Knicks forward Kristaps Porzingis. The occasion also drew several other notable names, including New York Liberty alumni Kym Hampton and Sue Wicks, and the Knicks City Dancers. Each of the guests played with children at different athletic stations; Daly and Connors organized a soccer match, Porzingis, Hampton and Wicks shot around on the basketball court, while the Knicks City Dancers led the youngsters in a dance clinic.
The Red Storm has a vibrant history of lending a hand in the community, taking home the St. John’s Community Service Award four times since 2003. Last season, the Coach Ian Stone’s squad shared the end of the year award with the St. John’s volleyball team.
About Madison Square Boys & Girls Club
Since 1884, Madison has been saving and enhancing the lives of youth by providing after-school and summer programs for children in New York City’s most disadvantaged communities. Programs are engineered to empower each member to achieve three priority outcomes: Academic Success, Good Character & Citizenship, and Healthy Lifestyles. Every day, Madison provides thousands of children with a safe and positive environment, one where fun is encouraged and positive role models are plentiful. A founding member of Boys & Girls Clubs of America, Madison currently serves more than 5,000 youth, ages 6 to 18, at seven sites throughout Brooklyn and the Bronx.
About Garden of Dreams
The Garden of Dreams Foundation is a non-profit organization that works with The Madison Square Garden Company to positively impact the lives of children facing obstacles. The Foundation works with 25 partner organizations throughout the tri-state area, including hospitals, wish organizations and community-based organizations, to reach children who are facing challenges such as homelessness, extreme poverty, illness and foster care.
