On Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Northern Arizona University student-athletes spent their day honoring the late Dr. King through community service.

Student-athletes collected over 40 bags of waste, organized clothes at the Goodwill, served meals at the local soup kitchen, and played games with the Boys and Girl’s Club in Flagstaff.

The day had a special meaning for one NAU football player.

“Some nights I couldn’t eat, I didn’t have the same benefits as everybody else,” NAU sophomore Maurice Davison said. “Now that I can serve these people, it not only puts a smile on their face but it puts one on mine.”

Davison is a football player from Anaheim, California but grew up in Compton. He’s currently on a full-ride scholarship for the Lumberjacks and is one of the strongest cornerbacks on the team.

On MLK Day, giving back allowed him to return the favor that his community once gave him.

“People actually helped us when we were going through the tough times,” Davison said. “When I’m able to get the chance to help other people … I feel good about it.”

This is Davison’s second year participating in the #MLKDay event and he said he’s looking forward to next year’s opportunity.

Swimming and Diving also had a Rewarding experience at the Sunshine Rescue Mission for MLK Day.

(© 2017 KPNX)

Source: http://www.12news.com/sports/college/nau-athletes-clean-up-flagstaff-for-mlk-day/386538942

It was her first day on a job site as a Habitat for Humanity of Anderson County volunteer, but Tori Martin seemed like a veteran Monday.

“I love this kind of stuff,” the Clemson University junior said as she helped build homes on Melrose Lane in west Anderson. “I like anything to do with wood — cutting it, hammering it, building with it. If you’re going to build something sturdy, you’ve got to have some solid wood.”

Martin learned many of her hammer-and-nails skills from her grandfather and father in Roswell, Georgia. She rarely gets the chance to put it to use as a preveterinary major at Clemson, but foresees any training as a good thing.

“I’m hoping to work on a farm, near animals, and knowing how to fix a fence might be part of the job,” she said. “I was excited as soon as I heard about this opportunity.”

Martin, a member of Clemson’s rowing team, was among 45 Clemson University athletes who volunteered Monday at the Habitat site as part of a service project for Martin Luther King Jr. Day. Aled Hollingworth, a graduate student assistant in student-athlete development, has coordinated an effort to build several homes in the Melrose community.

“Last year, our athletes gave 1,800 hours of community service on projects like this,” Hollingworth said as he helped put vinyl siding onto the front of the house. “When people think of athletes, they think of the athletics and the academics, but not usually this part of their lives.”

About 400 honor Martin Luther King Jr. at Anderson event
Athletes from the football, women’s soccer, rowing, volleyball and baseball teams were part of the project.

As part of the observance of Martin Luther King Day, classes were not in session Monday on the Clemson campus.

Source: http://www.independentmail.com/story/news/local/2017/01/16/clemson-students-volunteer-anderson-mlk-jr-day/96640156/

The Mercy College men’s basketball team volunteered their time at POTS in the Bronx for the second time this season on Sunday, January 15th, spending four hours volunteering.

The Mavericks served 195 meals, washed dishes, cleaned tables and served beverages to the less fortunate.

POTS is a ‘one-stop shop’ assisting individuals living in poverty on their journeys from crisis to stability and ultimately, self-sufficiency. POTS is dedicated to providing a professional and hospitable environment where every interaction is based on compassion and respect.

Courtesy of Mercy Sports Information Department

MSURacers Track Stars provided community service recently by sorting & packing 5,420 cans at Need Line.

Need Line provides assistance with food, utility, rent, life-sustaining medication, medical travel, homelessness, cleaning and hygiene products, organization and implimentation of the week end childrens Back-Pack food program, blankets, fans, nutritional and educational information, referrals, volunteer opportunities and more.

WINONA, Minn. — Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota student-athlete Jase Pater will be the first to admit … he never expected this.
What started out as a class project—a senior thesis in his Case Studies in Public Relations course—Pater’s efforts to organize and coordinate the “Jogging For Jack Superhero 5K” earned national attention on Monday, when Saint Mary’s was selected as an honorable-mention award-winner of the NADIIIAA/Jostens Community Service Awards for the “One Time Project” category.

The awards program is co-sponsored by the NADIIIAA and Jostens and is intended to recognize the many contributions Division III student-athletes regularly make to their campuses and local communities. Recognition is given for projects in three categories: One-Time Projects, An Array of Projects, and Ongoing Projects.

The “Jogging For Jack Superhero 5K,” which was held on April 10, 2016, was a fundraiser for Jack Cassidy, the 2-year-old son of Cardinal head women’s soccer coach, Neil Cassidy. Jack was diagnosed with a rare type of cancer—Langerhans Cell Histiocytosis (LCH)—and required chemotherapy, steroids, and steroid injections. Since Jack was a huge fan of super heroes—especially Superman—Pater and other members of the Saint Mary’s Student Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) came up with the Superhero 5K theme.
Representatives from each of the institution’s 21 varsity athletic teams were among the 50-plus student-athletes who were involved in the logistics of the event. And over 100 student-athletes were among the more than 300 people from the Saint Mary’s community, members of the Winona community, and friends of the Cassidy family, who turned out to show their support.

The event raised more than $9,500 to help assist the Cassidy family with Jack’s medical expenses.

“I am really honored to have helped Saint Mary’s receive this award—and grateful to everyone who was involved in making it a success,” said Pater, a four-year member of the Cardinal cross country and track/field team, who graduated in May. “This award is just the icing on the cake—since I know how appreciative the Cassidy family was for all our efforts putting this event together.”

“I am very proud of our student-athletes for earning yet another national community service award—the department’s fifth in the last seven years,” said athletic director Nikki Fennern, who will accept the award at the NCAA national convention in Nashville, Tenn. “Our student-athletes’ commitment to service and leadership continues to be among the best in the nation, and is a testament to the university’s Lasallian mission.
“I am extremely grateful for the leadership of Jase Pater and our SAAC in leading this event—as well as all of the student-athletes who volunteered and participated in the event.”

Source: http://www.smumn.edu/newsblog/2017/01/12/10899/