Hempstead, NY – Throughout the fall semester, Hofstra student-athletes continuously answered the call to serve others. Between Hofstra’s 17 athletic teams and more than 300 student-athletes, the Pride took part in 21 community service projects and totaled more than 1,300 hours of service.
Each year Hofstra takes part in the CAA Blood Drive Challenge, which sees each school in the Colonial Athletic Association host a blood drive during the fall semester. This year’s drive at Hofstra was held on the one-year anniversary of Superstorm Sandy hitting Long Island and Hofstra students, faculty and administrators, as well as the local community, showed their support. Hofstra placed second overall in the competition, collecting more than 400 pints of blood, and finished first in the category that recognizes the highest percentage increase of donors from last year. The second place finish was the highest Hofstra has placed in the 12 years the event has been held. Pride student-athletes not only donated blood, but volunteered in the weeks prior to the event to help spread the word, as well as during the drive to help run the check-in table and assist participants after they had donated.
Other community service projects our student-athletes participated in included raking leaves around the Hempstead and Uniondale communities, running sports clinics for local youth, visiting soup kitchens as well as collecting and donating school supplies to local classrooms. The Hofstra Department of Athletics is very proud of the terrific work of our student-athletes and would like to send a special thank you to the men’s lacrosse team, who totaled nearly 500 hours of service during the fall semester.
Some of the projects taken part in by Hofstra’s student-athletes include:
HEADStrong Fundraiser
Each fall the women’s lacrosse program hosts a weekend tournament to help benefit the HEADStrong Foundation. This year student-athletes from men’s lacrosse, women’s basketball, men’s tennis, baseball and women’s tennis volunteered throughout the day to assist with the tournament.
Martin Luther King Jr. Park Clean Up
The men’s tennis team spent a Sunday morning in December at MLK Jr. Park in Hempstead. Along with other students from Hofstra and several community members, Pride student-athletes helped clean up the park as part of the Hempstead Beautification Program.
Shake-A-Rake
Each year the Hofstra University Department of Off-Campus Living partners with the Department of Athletics in a large-scale leaf-raking event. This year more than 100 student-athletes spent the morning raking leaves and clearing the walkways of elderly and disabled community members in the Hempstead, Uniondale and Roosevelt towns of Long Island. More than 25 homes were serviced during the project, which continues to grow each year and has become a staple project for Hofstra University students.
Long Island Children’s Museum
Student-athletes from the women’s cross country, women’s golf and baseball teams took separate trips to the Long Island Children’s Museum throughout the fall to help in a variety of ways. Student-athletes led arts and crafts stations, assisted with the Museum’s birthday celebration and took part in educational games during their visits.
Cycle For A Cure
The Pride softball team took part in a cycling fundraiser in the Hofstra University Fitness Center. All proceeds raised during the four-session event were donated to cancer research.
Tunnel To Towers Run
Both the men and women’s lacrosse programs, including coaching staffs and several other athletic department administrators, took part in the annual 5k run which follows the path of fallen firefighter Stephen Siller during the September 11, 2001, attacks.
Breast Cancer Walk
Student-athletes from the women’s cross country team took part in an annual 5k walk held at Jones Beach State Park. Team members helped raise funds for cancer research, and joined with thousands of participants to help support those who are battling breast cancer.
Soccer Clinic
The men and women’s soccer teams took part in two clinics during the fall semester. Student-athletes visited the Massapequa Soccer Club for a clinic in late August and then hosted a clinic on campus for local children in September. Both events were fun, educational and enjoyed by all participants.
Epilepsy Awareness Lift
In an effort to raise awareness for those living with epilepsy, the Hofstra Softball team wore purple shirts, headbands and sweatbands to show their support. The images were shared with local epilepsy advocacy groups.
Stay Strong Carissa
The softball team assisted 2013 graduate Olivia Galati in hosting a charity softball game for Carissa Crossan, a 13- year old Long Island softball player who was diagnosed with Ewing’s Sarcoma. The sold-out game was held November 9 at the Hofstra Softball Stadium and raised more than $7,600 to help with Carissa’s medical expenses.
