Girls soccer players from four area high schools have spent the last three weeks collecting donations for a women’s shelter in Chicago, and a local female-owned chain of gyms is cheering them on in the form of free workouts.

Every Sunday since Feb. 21, athletes from Whitney Young, Jones College Prep, Loyola Academy and Lyons Township in La Grange have descended on one of four Shred 415 locations to participate in hourlong interval training classes with their teammates. But instead of paying the usual $24 per class, they’re paying with items they’ve collected for women and children.

High school athletes from Lyons Township High School get in a free workout at Shred 415 in Hinsdale as part of a program that encourages students to collect donations for a women’s shelter in Chicago. (Christina Thornton)
“It was definitely part of our mission when we started Shred 415 to give back to the community and charities that are dear to our heart,” said Tracy Roemer, who co-founded the chain of gyms in 2011 with her longtime friend and workout partner Bonnie Micheli.

Sometime during the week of March 20, the high school girls will make a surprise donation to a shelter, where they’ll deliver all the items they’ve collected: hygiene products, clothing, toys and books for kids.

The public can contribute too, with each week devoted to a specific donation item. This week, through Sunday, all Shred 415 locations are accepting adult and children’s T-shirts and socks. Then Monday through March 19, people are encouraged to write feel-good notes that will be given to the women staying at the shelter.

Through war and peace, the life-changing power of female friendships

The high school girls are part of a nonprofit called Buddy’s Helpers, which encourages student athletes and coaches to participate in community service projects.

“Tracy and I both have daughters, so it’s really been fun for us to see younger girls taking the classes and getting excited about exercising and staying fit together,” Micheli said.

I think teen actress Moretz — who tweeted to Kardashian: “I truly hope you realize how important setting goals are for young women, teaching them we have so much more to offer than just our bodies” — would be proud of the girls’ efforts.

So am I.

hstevens@tribpub.com

Twitter @heidistevens13 

Source: http://www.chicagotribune.com/lifestyles/stevens/ct-shred-415-womens-shelter-balancing-0308-20160308-column.html

Student-athletes at East Carolina University commit thousands of hours to civic service each school year in Pitt County and the surrounding region, but the Pirates’ women’s basketball team has been perhaps one of the most visible athletic programs in the local community.

Sixth-year Head Coach Heather Macy is the strongest advocate for her team’s visibility in the community and dedication to serving others, setting a high bar for the minimum amount of time her players give back each year – whether the Pirates are in the middle of its five-month long season or not. That number? 500 hours. In her six years at ECU, her team has never fallen short of that standard.

For the second year in a row, an ECU women’s basketball player earned a place on a short list of nominees for the Women’s Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA) Good Works Team – an organization recognizing players at all levels of college basketball who have made outstanding contributions in the areas of volunteerism and civic involvement. After Abria Trice was honored last year, senior DeVaughn Gray was named one of 103 nominees for the prestigious recognition.

One symbol of Gray’s personal initiative was exhibited in her fostering of a new relationship with the Cyprus Glen Retirement Community in Greenville. Her commitment became more than just service, as her efforts encouraged her teammates to get involved as well. The rapport built with the residents turned into a large group of new fans that attend most, if not all of the Pirates’ home games in 2015-16.

“I was helping former ECU professors, which was kind of cool because getting involved with them as a current student, I felt like I was giving back to them for all they gave to get the university where it is today,” Gray said. “After our first visit to Cyprus Glen, everyone on the team realized they need people like us in their lives because they don’t have family members or other people visiting them on a daily basis. For some of them, it’s been years since they’ve seen their families or they don’t have anyone left. Once I explained that to them, they understood and wanted to be involved.”

In the Fall 2015 semester alone, 15 East Carolina Women’s Basketball players accumulated 208 hours of service to a broad range of organizations that includes events such as Welcome M.S., Cyprus Glen, Exceptional Flag Football League (Greenville Recreation Department), Aces for Autism, Upward Bound Baseball Clinic and numerous events coordinated by ECU’s Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) to serve the local youth.

Just because the Pirates play road games and in tournaments across the country doesn’t mean community service takes a back seat. At the American Athletic Conference Tournament in Uncasville, Connecticut, ECU has sent its players to nearby Mohegan Elementary School to read books to children during down time each of the last two seasons.

On March 3rd, it was another trip to the school, which also marked famous children’s book author Dr. Seuss’ birthday, as the Pirates read some of his famous literature to classrooms, including Green Eggs And Ham and The Cat In The Hat.

The ECU Women’s Basketball team’s impact truly extends beyond the local community and onto a national level, and the influence could never be more apparent when school children in Connecticut don purple and gold t-shirts with a skull and crossbones logo threaded at the center.

Source: http://www.ecupirates.com/news/2016/3/7/ECU_Women_s_Basketball_Serving_Communities_Near_amp_Far.aspx

LOWELL, Mass. – On Wednesday, July 20, there was not a sporting event going on at the Tsongas Center, but there were still plenty of UMass Lowell student-athletes in attendance. Despite not being on the ice or on the court, the men’s hockey and women’s basketball teams spent the day giving back to the local community as volunteers at the American Red Cross’ annual blood drive in the Tsongas Center. The event has become the organization’s third largest blood drive of the year.

For those familiar with Tsongas, walking into the building on Wednesday looked very different. The floor was filled with donating stations and medical personnel, who were making sure everything was running smoothly.

The Tsongas center proved to be a great venue.

“The Tsongas Center makes a huge difference,” said Alyson Barraza, the communications manager for the Massachusetts and Connecticut blood services region. “It is open and bright. You can see what you13618 are doing. Plus there are plenty of spots for designated areas. Being able to play music is a big bonus too. It is the perfect venue and we hope we can continue the partnership going into the future.”

The unfortunate truth is that the United States is suffering from a serious blood shortage. The country is about 39,000 units short of what is needed.
“Blood only has a shelf life of 42 days,” explained Barraza. “It is a need that constantly has to be replenished. So when communities like Lowell want to help, it is tremendous. We are able to help more people.”

In years past, UMass Lowell has done just that. The drive at the Tsongas Center typically produces donations that reach the hundreds.

The River Hawk hockey team volunteered to help during the first half of the day. They would do anything from talking to patients while they eat and recover to escorting patients after giving blood, to simply welcoming people coming in.

Rising junior Gage Hough was one of the volunteers from the team.

“It is always good to get involved and to meet these great people,” Hough stated. “Donating blood is a great way to give back to the community and I am fortunate to be a part of it.”

“We want people to take an hour of their time to donate blood and make a difference,” Barraza voiced. “One donation can save three lives. It really hits home. It shows why every donation is important.”

Later in the day, the UMass Lowell women’s basketball team took over for the hockey team.

Katherine Smith, a rising junior on the team, also advocated for the cause.

“People always need help,” she said. “It is important because we are able-bodied college kids. It is good for us to come here and be more than just a student-athlete.”

Barraza echoed how important it was that the student-athletes paid a visit.13617

“Having the teams here is great,” she mentioned. “Having their support shows how connected the community really is (to UMass Lowell). It gives these people some inspiration when they come here, as well as comfort.”

Smith feels the same way.

“I think being involved in the community is such an important thing,” she detailed. “So many people take their time to see us or help us. Whether it is the coaches, or people behind the scenes it is really good for us student athletes to give back when we have the opportunity to.”

If you choose to give blood, the actual process only takes about 15 minutes. You can also choose how much you wish to donate. The whole hour timeframe includes filling out paperwork and also making sure you get a good snack in before you head out.

“Giving back is one of the most important things you can do,” agreed Hough. “We all want to help each other.”

He went on to explain that part of what makes the experience so great is hearing people’s stories.

“UMass Lowell does a great job of finding ways to give back. There is always something to learn from the people who come to these events, and it is good to hear their stories.”

Barraza pointed out, “There is a woman here who is donating her sixth gallon of blood. It has taken many, many years to do so, but it is really quite the accomplishment.”
The American Red Cross’s mission statement reads, “The American Red Cross prevents and alleviates human suffering in the face of emergencies by mobilizing the power of volunteers and generosity of donors.”

All of this is possible due to people willing to volunteer their time. The Tsongas Center was the height of that unity on Wednesday.

Source: http://www.goriverhawks.com/news/2016/7/22/community-engagement-feature-friday-river-hawks-give-back-at-annual-blood-drive.aspx

“Freedom isn’t free!” shouted head football coach Tom Sanford to the 125 members of the Quarterback’s Strength, Speed and Agility team. “You are here this morning getting faster and stronger, in part, because of these wonderful volunteers – but more importantly – we are all here because of the men and women in our nation’s Armed Forces who have sacrificed their lives in order to preserve ours!”

Sanford’s message kicked off the third annual Strength and Honor Lift-a-Thon fundraising drive. Strength and Honor is July 27 and 28 from 6:30-9:30 p.m. at Aitkin High School. The event is open to the public and free of charge.

Strength and Honor was established in 2014 as a way for area student-athletes to give back to their community. The coaching staff transformed the concept of a walk-a-thon to something that could be used in strength training. Participants in the Quarterback’s Strength, Speed and Agility program who are in eighth grade or older have an opportunity to showcase their strength while honoring veterans through fundraising for local service organizations.

Scoring for the lift-a-thon is based on a total of the maximum lifts from the bench, squat and clean. That total is divided by the lifter’s body weight. According to the coaching staff, this is a true measure of an athlete’s overall strength.

In 2014, Strength and Honor raised $7,500 for American Legion Post 86 and, in 2015, $10,000 was raised for VFW Post 1727. This summer’s proceeds will be donated to the American Legion again.

“I am continually amazed each day by the drive of a few to inspire the masses to make their community better,” commented Dr. Austin Krohn, a family medicine physician at Riverwood Healthcare Center with a sports medicine fellowship. “The vision of the strength, speed and agility program to make our athletes stronger, faster and safer has grown beyond the team goals and inspired so many community members, coaches and parents to work together for a common purpose.”

Quarterback’s Strength, Speed and Agility was designed by like-minded coaches with assistance from health care professionals with an emphasis on sports medicine. Together Sanford, along with head coaches Jeremy Janzen, Rob Williams, Jason Henke and Larry Liljenquist, offer a program that promotes fitness for the whole athlete.
The coaching staff put together an array of parent volunteers who work with the student-athletes every Monday, Wednesday and Friday morning from 7-9 a.m. The regular volunteers include: Krista Anderson, Scott Miller, Shawn Henkle, Kellie Janzen, Gina Ostrowski, Tiffany Kullhem, Stacy Westerlund, Ann Kukowski, Tara Snyder, Alan Hills and Chris Meirose. Alumni Dan Bender, Alex Gaulke, Hunter Sanford and Austin Burton also volunteer.

“We preach about fitness and dedication in the off-season to keep our athletes safe and avoid common injuries that occur when student’s return to their fall sports after having the summer off,” concluded Krohn, a volunteer baseball and football coach in Aitkin who assists with the strength, speed, and agility program. “This in an innovative off-season program available because of the incredible vision of a few and the hard work of many. We should feel proud to have such a program in our little town of Aitkin.”

How to Donate

The Strength and Honor fundraising drive will run from July 20-28. Please make checks payable to American Legion Post 86 and write lift-a-thon in the memo. Donations may be given to participants or brought to the lift-a-thon July 27 or 28.

Source: http://www.messagemedia.co/aitkin/sports/schools/strength-and-honor-to-give-back-to-community/article_f9b2d710-4df9-11e6-857f-cf09878d849f.html

Over the course of the 2015-16 academic year, the Purdue University Northwest athletic department actively helped out the local communities as student-athletes participated in a number of community service projects and other events to help serve others.

In total, both the Purdue Calumet and Purdue North Central athletic departments accumulated more than 1,500 hours of community service.

“Community service and engagement is a point of pride for our athletic department,” Director of Athletics Rick Costello said. “Our student-athletes can make a tremendous difference in our communities and 2015-16 was just another great example of the amount of service our teams have contributed.”

Added Associate Athletic Director for Compliance Tom Albano: “I’m very satisfied with the commitment and hours our Student-Athletes gave during the school year to help better the youths of Laport and Porter County.”

“Our institution strives on giving back, and the countless hours they put in really help make a difference in peoples lives.”

To start off the year last August, 121 participants from all 12 Purdue Calumet sports came together to help out with the University’s Move in Day.

Purdue Calumet student-athletes assisted other students in moving into their rooms at University Village Housing by carrying suitcases and boxes full of clothing and other times, TV’s and more from their cars to their rooms to help the stressful transition of moving day run smoother.

During the winter, 95 student-athletes also helped with the Hammond Holiday Parade, where they gave out candy and took photos with the community of Hammond in the annual event.

Purdue Calumet’s volleyball team was recently involved in the Mom Prom, which helped raise awareness for Rett syndrome. The student-athletes helped with raffle prizes, a photo booth, set-up and tear-down, and taking donations.

The 160-person event was sold out and raised over $6,000 to help support Rett Syndrome, a disease that affects girls almost exclusively. It is characterized by normal early growth and development followed by a slowing of development, loss of purposeful use of the hands, distinctive hand movements, slowed brain and head growth, problems with walking, seizures, and intellectual disability.

The Purdue Calumet women’s soccer team volunteered for the Northwest Indiana Cancer Kids Foundation at their 5th annual St. Baldrick’s event at the Local Operating Engineers Hall in Merrillville, Ind.

The squad helped with setup and running different stations, which consisted of festival type games and prizes. Team members also helped to run the photo booth, bake sale and taking turns circulating the event dressed as Elmo.

This event was attended by community members, families affected by childhood cancer, including those children who recently completed and/or were still undergoing treatment.

The Purdue North Central campus also had their athletic programs help out in the community, including the Haunted Trail that all of the sports volunteered for around Halloween time.

Student-athletes from all six sport programs designed and created their own haunted trail throughout campus, setting up a haunting scene for members of the campus and community to walk through.

The PNC baseball team assisted with the Porter County boys and girls club camp, Valparaiso Parks kids baseball camp, and the Boone Grove High School baseball camp.

The Panther softball team, which won the 2016 CCAC Team Champions of Character award, assisted in a number of softball clinics around the Porter County area. PNC’s men’s basketball program also helped out with the Head Start Program in Valparaiso and the Read and Play program.

Other events the PNC department contributed to included Thanksgiving and Christmas food drives at the Porter County Food Pantry and PNC Food Pantry and the Daniel’s Cause Toy Drive.

Below are more ways the Purdue Northwest department served the community and supported other campus events in 2015-16:

Kid’s Day events at two basketball games – Student-Athletes helped face paint, supervise bounce houses and interacted with fans. Both basketball teams also did a poster signing where kids could meet them and get the entire team’s autograph on a poster.
R-DUB Club – Student-Athletes visited Hammond elementary classrooms and read different parts of books and stories to local children.
New Student Orientations, where student-athletes assisted incoming students by answering questions about the University.
Recess Buddies at the Riley Center and Woodland Childcare Centers in Hammond, where student-athletes helped demonstrate good sportsmanship in games and how to play fair.
Easter Egg Hunt, where student-athletes helped designate areas for children to hunt for Easter eggs while also assisting kids in receiving other prizes and coloring books.
Food Drive, where the Purdue Calumet Softball team helped run a food drive for United Way at Strack & Van Til in Schererville, Ind.
Habitat for Humanity in Merrillville, Ind., where the men’s soccer team built a fence, packed shelves and assisted in moving heavy inventory to help set up shop.
Student Convocation, where members of the men’s basketball team assisted in food distribution to students.

Source: http://www.valpolife.com/sports/college-pro/61049-pnw-athletics-community-service-2016-in-review