To mark Breast Cancer Awareness Month, Massapequa High School’s fall athletic teams have each dedicated one home game to the cause. The girls’ volleyball team held its 10th annual Dig Pink fundraiser on Oct. 14, with players from both the varsity and junior varsity teams donning pink uniforms and accessories.

The event began with the junior varsity game. It followed with performances by the cheerleaders and Chiefettes kickline team and a Stand Up ceremony, in which players and people in the crowd held up signs with the name of someone they knew affected by breast cancer. Pink carnations were then presented to all players from Massapequa and the visiting teams.

The McKenna Elementary School Show Choir, comprised of fifth- and sixth-grade students, performed the national anthem and an inspirational song before the varsity game. Both volleyball games were played with pink balls.
CarolAnn Habeeb-Kiel, the varsity coach, said that the event has raised more than $60,000 for the Side-Out Foundation in the past decade to support breast cancer research. She noted that all players were wearing inspirational words on the back of their shirts such as live, trust, overcome, cherish and honor.

The Massapequa Booster Club sold Dig Pink T-shirts and volleyball gear in the lobby, and raffled off baskets, with proceeds included in the school’s donation.
“It’s a big event, and we raise a lot of money,” said Jamie Smith, a senior co-captain of the varsity volleyball team. “It’s nice for use to support breast cancer survivors and all those affected.”

Photo Caption:
The Massapequa girls’ varsity volleyball team supported Breast Cancer Awareness during its annual Dig Pink game on Oct. 14.

Photos courtesy of Massapequa School District

EAST MEADOW, N.Y. (Oct. 18, 2016) – On Saturday, the LIU Post softball team participated in the Light the Night Walk at Eisenhower Park, in support of the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society.

The Light the Night Walk is a fundraising campaign that benefits the funding of research to find cures for blood cancer.

“Light the Night was an extremely moving experience that I am so happy to have had the chance to be a part of,” stated LIU Post senior Melissa Peet (Monroe, Conn.). “When everyone came together in the opening ceremony to light their lanterns in memory of lost loved ones and in honor of current cancer fighters, it was truly an inspirational moment. Being able to see supporters and survivors unite for such a great cause was something I will never forget.”

“It was a great experience to be able to support those who are living with blood cancer and the loved ones we lost,” fellow Pioneer senior Ashley Martin (Long Beach, N.Y.) said. “It was amazing to participate in this event and help make a difference for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society.”

Founded in 1949, the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society is the world’s largest voluntary health organization dedicated to funding blood cancer research, education and patient services.

For more information on the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, please visit LLS.org.

MADISON, Wis. – Earlier this month, more than 15 Wisconsin student-athletes from multiple sport teams took a break from their studies and practices for the afternoon to play games and socialize with children at Play It Forward for Haiti.

Play It Forward for Haiti, hosted by the Fond Blanc Foundation, returned for the second year in a row at the Keva Sports Center in Middleton on Oct. 2. Student-athletes interacted with children and community members at the event which featured bounce houses, games and even a crowd-pleasing dunk tank. While the children played with student-athletes, parents visited the silent auction and the foundation’s school store to raise money for the Haitian Fond Blanc Orphanage.

The Fond Blanc Foundation is dedicated to providing education, healthcare and spiritual support to the Haitian Fond Blanc Orphanage and to the surrounding community. The primary goal of the Fond Blanc Orphanage is to give as many children as possible the opportunity to gain an education in a country that currently has a 15 percent graduation rate. Last year, the money raised at the Play it Forward event was used to open the orphanage in Fond Blanc, Haiti. This year, enough money was raised to not only keep the school open for another year, but also to buy uniforms for the children.

Play It Forward For Haiti Attendees from Women’s Hockey 2016
“Through the efforts of the UW student-athletes, alongside our community and FBF staff, we were able to raise $45,000 at this Play it Forward event, topping last year by $9,000,” said Tia Bunz, executive director of the Fond Blanc Foundation. “We couldn’t be more grateful for all the time and energy put in for the children of Fond Blanc, and couldn’t be more proud of the importance placed on these children’s education.”

The event was a success for the Fond Blanc Foundation, and was especially meaningful to the student-athletes who participated.

“I had so much fun at the Play it Forward event,” said Maren Schultz of women’s rowing. “Everyone was having a great time while also giving back to an important cause.”

If you are interested in learning more about the Fond Blanc Foundation, you can visit www.fondblanc.org or call (608) 444-7774.

http://www.uwbadgers.com/

TROY, Alabama – A guiding principal of Troy’s student-athletes has been their presence in the community as they to give back to people of Pike County. Led by the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC), Troy student-athletes engage in community service projects throughout the year.

In September, all of Troy’s teams partnered with the University and the community to collect donations for the flood victims in Louisiana. Additionally, student-athletes from various teams visited Troy Elementary School and greeted kindergarteners as they arrived at school.

Student-athletes from the women’s basketball team spent time at the Troy Boys and Girls Club and other locations around the community to clean up litter on the road. Women’s soccer student-athletes also visited the Boys and Girls Club and prepared toiletry bags to help educate on proper hygiene.

Women’s golf and women’s tennis student-athletes visited the Christian Love Center throughout the month to not only play games with the children, but also help with homework and conduct tutoring sessions.

Additionally, members of the track and field team visited residents at Noble Manor Nursing Home, spent time at the Boys and Girls Club and cared for rescued dogs at Precious Paws.

About SAAC
The Troy University Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) advocates for an inclusive athletic environment that values the welfare of each student-athlete. We collaborate with all segments of the university, more specifically with the Troy University Athletic Department, to provide the voice for Troy University student-athletes. The mission of SAAC is to prepare student-athletes for lifelong learning and global citizenship through the promotion of academic, athletic, professional, and personal growth.

To learn more please visit: http://www.troytrojans.com

Rhame Avenue School’s K-Kids hosted a school wide assembly to whip Pediatric Cancer on Sept. 29.
As part of an schoolwide initiative, students and staff donated a dollar to purchase a “Heart of Gold,” which were then displayed in the main lobby. The school raised $275 dollars for the Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center and celebrated their achievement by dancing to “Watch Me (Whip/Nae Nae)” in the gymnasium alongside Principal Erik Walter and other teachers!

Photo Caption: Rhame Avenue K-Kids hosted a schoolwide assembly to whip Pediatric Cancer.

Photo courtesy of the East Rockaway School District