A key aspect of being a UConn student-athlete is finding ways to give back to the local community. For the UConn rowing team, having that sense of community is a program priority.

Giving back to the community is a valuable part of the UConn culture, under 20-year head coach Jennifer Wendry. It’s a way for the 62 rowers on the spring roster to show their appreciation for the opportunities they have been given.

With the start of the spring season less than one month away on March 17, the Huskies continue to make their presence felt in local community work. Just this month, the rowing team is participating in a special event.

“The town of Coventry is very supportive of our team, as we row on Coventry Lake,” said freshman Kaitlyn May. “This month we’re running a food drive in Coventry to give back to those who support us.”

Freshman Kailey Crothers added, “UConn rowing is a very community-oriented team. Being a team of over 60, we are our own small community within UConn, who supports, motivates and inspires each other every day.”

The rowing team has two representatives in the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee, who inform the other rowers about volunteer opportunities in the local area. All UConn teams compete for the Husky Cup, which recognizes the program with the most service accolades throughout a year.

“Being an athlete at a school like UConn means being in the public eye, which provides the perfect chance for us to help our community and hopefully inspire others to do the same,” said junior Lena Karotkin.

Outreach to the community goes beyond food donations, as engagement with members of the community – specifically kids in elementary or middle schools – is also a high point of UConn’s service.

“We value our role in the community. We have had a great chance to volunteer, like at East Hartford Middle School to give advice to the kids and enjoy a day with them,” said junior Shayla Perez, a Waterbury, Conn. native.

For the Huskies, the theme of community is a multi-faceted term – serving not just as a reminder to give to others, but also to support and acknowledge teammates on a daily basis.

“When I think about my team in regards to community, I immediately think of the support system I feel between myself and my teammates,” said junior Sierra Mazur.

Freshman Erika Yao echoed the sentiment, saying, “Community means taking time during practice to cheer on your teammates and help them achieve the team’s goals. At practice, there is so much camaraderie and support that it makes it hard to fail.”

Despite busy schedules, full of school work and practice time, the Huskies have always found time to devote to the community – and will continue stressing its importance in the future for the program.

Source: http://www.uconnhuskies.com/sports/w-rowing/spec-rel/022017aaa.html

SF State’s Student-Athlete Advisory Committee is hosting its seventh annual food drive this week, Feb. 19 through Feb. 25, where proceeds go to the SF-Marin Food Bank.

The food drive, started in 2011, asks that all 13 schools in the California Collegiate Athletic Association gather donations that are then given to a local food bank or on-campus pantry.

“We are always happy to be raising cans/food for those less fortunate than us and we are always striving to raise more each year,” Alexis Konstantino said. Konstantino is the SAAC social media representative as well as a member of the softball team and SAAC executive board.

The program was designed to “raise awareness to the prevalence of hunger in communities surrounding the Conference’s member institutions,” according to a press release by the SF State athletic department.

The SF-Marin Food Bank serves approximately 225,000 people per year, according to its website.

“The problem doesn’t go away unfortunately,” said Mark Seelig, a member of the food bank. “We distribute upwards of 49 million pounds of food a year.”

The Food Bank runs several programs to combat hunger issues in the Bay Area. They provide snacks to students at several high-need public schools, facilitate a grocery delivery system Seelig lauds as “wildly successful” and a organizes a network of 253 weekly pantries that offer fresh fruits, vegetables and other healthy food items.

The Food Bank, celebrating its 30th anniversary, is “bursting at the seams” according to Seelig with how much food they distribute.

“We’re trying to just roll out as many programs (and) try to do as much outreach as possible,” Seelig said.

The 2016 CCAA food drive program collected 15,157 donations, an all-time high and roughly 5,000 more than the total collected in 2015. Konstantino said the SAAC board collected a record 488 cans last year.

“We are hoping that our numbers increase this year and for years on,” Konstantino said. “This is a great way for our student athletes to give back to our community and we are happy to donate anything we can.”

Those interested in donating can bring nonperishable food items to the bins in the lobby of the gym at Don Nasser Family Plaza or can donate on the website until Feb. 25.

“These food drives are just gigantic,” Seelig said. “We really do appreciate it — any little bit counts.”

Source: http://goldengatexpress.org/2017/02/18/student-athletes-help-to-combat-bay-area-hunger/

Earlier this month, the LIU Post men’s lacrosse team held a clinic for Lake Howell High School in Winter Park.

The players and staff ran a practice session that demonstrated several skills and drills. Additionally, the Lake Howell students were given instruction on various techniques, including shooting, goalie play, face-off techniques and defensive footwork.

“It was a great day for our team to give back to the sport,” said Head Coach John Jez (Cortlandt Manor, N.Y.). “The team did an awesome job interacting with the students at Lake Howell.”

Jez also added: “I am very happy we had this opportunity, and I was thrilled that everyone had a great time.”

Lake Howell High School has gained popularity in recent years due to their alumni. Among those former student-athletes include NBA player Chandler Parsons, NFL wide receiver Brandon Marshall and NFL linebacker Christian Jones.

For more information on the LIU Post men’s lacrosse team, please visit LIUPostPioneers.com.

Molloy Athletics is joining the East Coast Conference in an effort to raise money to assist Team Impact. Proceeds from tickets sales from the Lions’ men’s and women’s basketball games on February 22 and 25 will go to help the foundation. Fellow-ECC member schools Daemen, Bridgeport, Mercy, District of Columbia, and Roberts Wesleyan will be joining the Lions in the effort at their respective home dates.

The ECC is also donating a portion of the tickets sold during the conference tournament March 1, at the highest seed, and March 4 and 5 at the University of Bridgeport to help Team impact.

“Team IMPACT is a national 501(c)3 nonprofit headquartered in Boston whose mission is to improve the quality of life for children facing life-threatening and chronic illnesses through the power of team. Team IMPACT children are drafted onto college athletic teams and are a part of the team from Draft Day through to Graduation. The child joins the athletic team and the student-athletes join the child’s support team. The child gains great strength, camaraderie, and support and the student athletes are taught lessons about courage, resiliency and life perspective that they can’t learn in a classroom. Learn more at goteamimpact.” The conference stated in its release.

The conference also announced a partnership with the Muscular Dystrophy Association (MDA). This season, men’s lacrosse teams around the ECC will raise awareness and help fight neuromuscular diseases.
The funds will be raised from ticket sales, raffles, and other fundraising efforts throughout the season.

QUEENS, N.Y. (Feb. 17, 2017) – On Tuesday, LIU Post women’s lacrosse sophomore Abbey Sollecito (New Hyde Park, N.Y.) and freshman Jenna Doherty (Oceanside, N.Y.) teamed up with the Matthew Fetzer Foundation to give out toys and treats for Valentine’s Day at Cohen Children’s Medical Center in Queens.

The Pioneer student-athletes delivered presents, gift cards, doughnuts, cupcakes and roses to various children and parents to help spread the Valentine’s Day spirit.

“Helping out with the Matthew Fetzer Foundation gave me a sense of fulfillment,” Doherty said. “I will never forget watching the faces of these children light up when handing out Valentine’s Day gifts to them and their families.”

Doherty also added: “Donating my time at the Cohen Children’s Medical Center made me realize how much of an impact I can have on someone’s day. The Matthew Fetzer Foundation is truly a life-changing organization and I am grateful to have had an opportunity to volunteer for them. This is something I would hope to do again in the near future.”

The Matthew Fetzer Foundation, which started in 2005, is a non-for-profit organization that distributes toys, hosts parties and provides financial and emotional support to children with cancer and their families.

For more information on the Matthew Fetzer Foundation, please visit their official Facebook : https://www.facebook.com/Matthew-Fetzer-Foundation-163009700378739/