West Islip High School’s wrestling team and coaches attended a Dec. 2 wrestling clinic for local high school wrestlers, held at LIU Post prior to a match against New York University. Attendees made donations to the NYPD’s Sergeants Benevolent Association to assist NYPD Sgt. Paul Tuozzolo’s family, and the West Islip team proudly donated $500.

2016-17 Wrestling Team Photo: West Islip High School’s wrestling team proudly donated a $500 check for the family of NYPD Sgt. Paul Tuozzolo while attending a wrestling clinic and match at LIU Post.

Photo courtesy of the West Islip School District

Members of the Bronxville High School Habitat for Humanity Club – who are used to knocking down walls, moving construction materials and clearing rubble from actual homes – used icing, candy and graham crackers to help elementary school students build gingerbread houses during the fourth annual Gingerbread House Making fundraiser on Dec. 12.
The students raised $600 to benefit Westchester County’s chapter of the global nonprofit, Habitat for Humanity. The money will go toward supplies for building homes for low-income residents in the area.
“Our annual fundraiser enables the club members to spend time with the community during the holidays and raise money for a great organization,” said social studies teacher Chris Doyle, who advises the club with math teacher Zhanna Cabrera.
Doyle said the elementary school students who attended the fundraiser were asked to make a small donation in order to participate. The event, which was symbolic of how club members contribute in their community, also allowed the students to work together toward a common goal.
“The most rewarding part was seeing the delight on the young children’s faces and having them make a connection within the school district,” Doyle said. “Not only did they leave with smiles, the volunteers did as well.”
In addition to the annual fundraiser, Habitat for Humanity Club members are involved in building actual homes for people in need throughout the year.

Photo Captions:

Photo 1: Members of the Bronxville High School Habitat for Humanity Club students raised $600 to benefit Westchester County’s chapter of the global nonprofit.

Photos courtesy of the Bronxville Union Free School District

It’s a busy time of year for everyone, particularly those on the high school basketball courts as players and coaches cram in the last few practices before the holidays.
Despite those extra constraints, the focus for the Litchfield boys and girls basketball teams switched from the hardwood to the hard-luck on Saturday, Dec. 17, as players, coaches and parents from both teams helped deliver food baskets from the Litchfield Christmas Basket Association.

“We want to teach the players about service to the community while helping those in need,” Litchfield Boys Head Coach Drew Logan said. “Volunteering is something anyone can do and its an opportunity for our players to give back to the community that supports them.”
This is far from the first year that the teams have assisted in the deliveries for the Litchfield Christmas Basket Association, who doled out 234 food baskets to needy families this year, thanks to generous donations from the community. Both Logan and Litchfield Girls Head Coach Rob Corso believe that former Litchfield basketball coach and athletic director Ed Roundcount started the volunteering well before they took over their current positions as a way for the teams to give back.

The project epitomizes the term “student-athlete” as the lessons taught off the court by Logan and Corso may very well live on well past their teams’ playing days are over. By volunteering for organizations like the Christmas Basket Association, the players learn the importance of helping those who are less fortunate and representing their community in a positive light.
Ultimately, Logan sums it up succinctly with a simple sentence.

“We play for Litchfield High School, but we represent the city of Litchfield.”
And on Saturday, the young men and women from the Litchfield basketball teams represented their community well.

Source: http://www.thejournal-news.net/sports/prep_sports/litchfield-boys-basketball-vs-nokomis—point-club-/image_903b389a-c7ed-11e6-9744-f34aadaf1c42.html

The Eastern Michigan University football team put the Popeyes Bahamas Bowl celebration on the back burner today, Dec. 21, as the student-athletes and staff went out around the local community to interact to with children. The teams split up into three groups to give their time at two hostels, as well as at a youth football clinic.

The EMU players interacted with the kids at the hostels, engaging in activities and getting to know the youths. The children at the local establishments came from troubled backgrounds, as the hostel served as a safe space where they can learn and grow in a protected environment. With the EMU players there, the kids instantly lit up as the opportunity to play games with the football players made their afternoons

“For us to be here and help these kids out, it’s a blessing,” redshirt junior Brandon Bossard (Eagleville, Pa.-Methacton) explained. “You feel grateful when you come here and you see how fortunate you are. To put a smile on these kids faces, it really makes a difference.”

Ranfurly Homes for Children is an institution that works to ensure displaced children feel safe, comfortable and develop a sense of self-worth. The Popeyes Bahamas Bowl has worked closely with the organization since the bowl’s inception in 2014, and the visit has become a staple of the week.

“The kids look forward not only to going to the bowl game, but getting an opportunity to interact with these talented athletes,” Ranfurly Homes for Children administrator Alex Roberts said. “Just the opportunity to meet young people who are successful and on their way, it’s a marvelous opportunity.”

While on site, the teams took to the basketball court where they challenged the kids to a game of basketball.There was also soccer, swings, and other fun activities throughout the day.

“The great thing about sports is that none of these guys know each other, but you get a ball out there and immediately you can start being comfortable and interacting,” EMU Head Coach Chris Creighton said. “That’s the power of sport.”

Elsewhere, the rest of the team went back to the practice facility to engage in a youth clinic with other local Bahamas children. Along with the coaches, the players put the kids through various drills and football activities to teach the kids some more about the sport we know well in America, but the kids might not know as well in the Caribbean.

The children at the clinic participated in several drills that were overseen by the players, but the highlight of the day always comes at the end when each child has the chance to score a touchdown and show off his/her unique celebratory dance. It was one final moment for the kids and the players, two groups who didn’t know much about each other prior to Wednesday, to let loose together.

The Green and White will square off with Old Dominion University Friday, Dec. 23, at 1 p.m. in Nassau, Bahamas for the 2016 Popeyes Bahamas Bowl. The Eagles’ second-ever NCAA Division I bowl game will air live on ESPN and will also be available on 89.1 FM WEMU. For more information regarding the bowl game go to EMUEagles.com/BowlBound.

Source: http://www.emueagles.com/news/2016/12/21/football-eagles-take-break-from-bowl-celebration-give-back-to-bahamas-community.aspx

NATCHITOCHES – As they were involved with final exams and preparing to head home for the holidays, Northwestern State student-athletes took time to make a difference in the lives of local children and their families while continuing NSU Athletics’ remarkable community service tradition.

Led by their Student-Athlete Advisory Committee members representing all 14 NCAA Division I sports, NSU competitors contributed time and energy to help the Natchitoches Area Jaycees donate nearly $19,000 worth of toys to over 600 children involved with nearly 300 families in and around Natchitoches.

12/16/2016 Lady Demon Soccer and Lady Demon Basketball Volunteers Lady Demon Soccer and Lady Demon Basketball Volunteers
“It was great being able to give back to a community that supports NSU athletics tremendously, as well as help those who are less fortunate than us,” said track and field competitor David Mortiz, his team’s SAAC representative.

The effort Dec. 8-10 included dozens of NSU student-athletes who spent more than 12 hours helping solicit donations and sort toys, working with the Natchitoches Area Jaycees, who help coordinate the MASH (Make A Smile Happen) initiative.

“MASH is a very special event and we are lucky that every year we are given the opportunity to partner with this incredible organization that enables us to help kids’ Christmas dreams become a reality,” said Natalie Jaeger, a Lady Demon volleyball standout and the SAAC president. “The Natchitoches community supports our athletic teams in so many ways, and MASH is just one small way that we hope to give back to a community that has given so much. Our student-athletes are all very invested in this cause and to see them continually put in the work to help make this event a success is very heartwarming.”

About $2,000 in cash donations were specifically generated by the student-athletes. The NSU softball team led all NSU sports, with baseball close behind, said Betsy Nohavitza, NSU Athletics’ academic coordinator.

The MASH event is a longstanding partnership between the Jaycees and Elite Broadcasting of Natchitoches, which launched the initiative in 1996, and is staged in the parking lot of the local Walmart Super Store, a high traffic area for area consumers.

Student-athletes from all of NSU’s 14 sports were involved, along with coaches and staff members, said Nohavitza.

“We are so proud and lucky to have a department full of student-athletes who are devoted to selfless service,” she said. “The Natchitoches community shows nothing but love and support to NSU Athletics year-round and our athletes are always grateful and happy to give back whenever possible. We had every team involved in collecting donations for the toy drive, showing how important of a cause this is to the entire department.”

For several years, NSU Athletics has provided over 5,000 hours of community service annually assisting local, area, national and international causes. In 2015, Northwestern State won the inaugural #SouthlandStrong Community Service Award presented to the Southland Conference member whose student-athletes compile the most service hours, with NSU competitors more than doubling the second-place total.

The event also served as Northwestern State’s effort in the Southland Conference’s “Southland Gives Back” community service initiative, annually commemorated around the end of each year.

Source: http://www.nsudemons.com/news/2016/12/16/lady-demon-softball-student-athletes-do-their-part-to-brighten-christmas-for-local-kids.aspx