A day before competing in the 2016 Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SIAC) Cross Country Championship, student-athletes from around the league spent their Thursday afternoon volunteering at Pilgrims’ Inn in Rock Hill, S.C.

Pilgrims’ Inn, a non-profit organization that serves Rock Hill and the surrounding communities of York County, S.C, is a shelter for homeless women and families. Pilgrims’ Inn’s mission is to provide shelter, assistance, and supportive services to the community’s most vulnerable citizens.

Over 40 cross country student-athletes from Clark Atlanta, Morehouse, Albany State and members of the Student Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) from Claflin represented the largest volunteer group that Pilgrims’ Inn has accommodated this year. Student-athletes participated in several volunteer opportunities on Thursday such as cleaning toys, beautifying the grounds, unloading food trucks, stocking the food pantry, and assembling furniture.

“Today has been amazing,” said Emily Ward, volunteer coordinator and administrative assistant at Pilgrims’ Inn. “I did not know that it was going to be this many people but we had enough projects for them to do. Everything that we have here is donated so for the student-athletes to donate their time means the world to us.”

“Today was awesome,” remarked Pamela Page, Clark Atlanta head men’s and women’s cross country coach. “We left a little early because we knew we committed to this but the kids had a great time. I think it’s a noteworthy thing that they did today to help out the women and children at the shelter.”

For more information about Pilgrims’ Inn and ways to help, CLICK HERE
The 2016 SIAC Cross Country Championship will take place on Friday, Oct. 21 at Winthrop University on the campus of Rock Hill, S.C. The men’s 8k race is scheduled to start at 9 a.m. (ET) and the women’s 5k race is slated to follow immediately. The awards ceremony is scheduled to begin at 11:30 a.m.

Source: http://www.thesiac.com/news/2016/10/20/FBALL_1020163647.aspx

The Jaspers’ Athletics department is among nation’s best.

In between classes, practices and intercollegiate contests, Manhattan College’s Athletics department has embraced the Lasallian core values of showing concern for the poor and promoting social justice in New York City.

During the month of September, Manhattan College’s Student-Athlete Advisory Committee submitted more than 2,000 hours of community service.

In September, the Jaspers’ men’s and women’s lacrosse teams ran in the Stephen Siller Tunnel to Towers Memorial Run. The run is in honor of Siller, the father of Olivia ’18 and Genevieve ’20, a New York City firefighter (FDNY) who lost his life on September 11, 2001, after strapping on his gear and running through the Brooklyn Battery Tunnel to the Twin Towers. The Stephen Siller Foundation continues Stephen’s legacy by supporting first responders and service members. Building for America’s Bravest, a proud program of the Stephen Siller Tunnel to Towers Foundation, constructs specially adapted smart homes for the country’s most catastrophically injured service members.

In October, more than 300 Manhattan College student-athletes and staff members participated in the American Cancer Society’s “Making Strides for a Cure” 5K walk in Central Park. The Jaspers’ group had raised more than $1,800 for the American Cancer Society at the time of the event.

“The Manhattan Athletics department’s participation in the event provided an opportunity to spread awareness within our College community and beyond,” said Kat Prevo ’19 of the softball team. “The walk was decorated with Jasper green and pink pride, and I was beyond happy to partake in such an empowering event.”

The Student-Athlete Advisory Committee has a number of community service events scheduled throughout the remainder of the 2016-17 academic year, including a fundraiser for St. Baldrick’s Foundation, which raises money for research to end childhood cancer. The event, which will include students shaving their heads in solidarity with cancer patients, will take place in Draddy Gymnasium on Thursday, Dec. 1 at 5:30 p.m.

Source: https://manhattan.edu/news/archive/2016/10/Athletics-community-service.php

Students at Berner Middle School in the Massapequa School District did their part in the fight against breast cancer, raising more than $5,000 through its annual Think Pink fundraiser.
This was the seventh year the school has hosted the fundraiser to mark Breast Cancer Awareness Month. On Oct. 19, students and staff were encouraged to wear pink to school. There were also several activities during lunch periods. Student government officers sold Think Pink T-shirts. For a small donation, students could get their faces painted by teachers, including ribbons, hearts and other pink designs. Everyone was encouraged to sign one of several Think Pink banners hanging in the cafeteria to show their support for people affected by the disease.
The Chiefs Challenge club made the banners and also collected money for the school’s donation to the Side-Out Foundation, which supports breast cancer research. Eighth-grade member Erin O’Grady said it was important for students to do their part to help those battling the disease by showing them “that they don’t stand alone and that they have support.”
Throughout the school’s hallways, pink sheets of paper were hung with statistics about breast cancer. The Think Pink effort was led by teachers Kerry Regan, Denise Robertson, Caroline Glynn, Ed Hoffman and social worker Marissa Boulukos.

Photo Caption:
Berner Middle School Principal Jason Esposito was joined by teachers and students who all wore pink on Oct. 19 to mark Breast Cancer Awareness Month and support the school’s fundraising efforts.

Photos courtesy of Massapequa School District

The Lindenhurst girls’ soccer program recently held their annual Kicks for Cancer fundraiser game in support of the fight against breast cancer. To raise money for Kicks for Cancer, the event featured food and apparel sales, 50/50 raffle and a donation bucket.
This year, prior to the varsity game, the graduating members of the Lindenhurst team were recognized in a small ceremony including their parents.
“This group of seniors are very special,” said coach Charles Brostowski. “It goes beyond their talent on the field. They are special because of their intelligence and character and because of the example they set for the younger girls in the Lindenhurst program and community.”

Photo Caption: The Lindenhurst girls soccer program recently held their annual Kicks for Cancer fundraiser game in support of the fight against breast cancer.

Photo courtesy of Lindenhurst Union Free School District.

On Oct. 16, the Cougar football family took part in the annual American Cancer Society Making Strides Against Breast Cancer 5K at Jones Beach.

More than 100 John F. Kennedy High School football players, coaches and family members joined tens of thousands of other Long Islanders in this annual noncompetitive, inspirational event which raised money and awareness in the fight against cancer.
The Cougars raised more than $1,500 to be donated to the cause.
   
Photo Captions: Members of the Cougar football family participated in the Making Strides Against Cancer Walk at Jones Beach on Oct. 16.

Photos courtesy of the Bellmore-Merrick Central High School District