Villanova, Pa. – This past weekend over 4,500 members of the Villanova University community participated in the 10th annual St. Thomas of Villanova Day of Service. 452 of the volunteers were student athletes, coaches, and staff members from 22 teams. This year there were over 130 sites that were served over the weekend. Overall, the 452 student athletics volunteers completed approximately 1,300 hours of service.

Director of Student-Athlete Development Allison Venella shared how this event has grown every year.

“The spirit and enthusiasm of our coaches, staff and especially our student-athletes never ceases to amaze me,” Venella said. “This year marked the 10th Anniversary of a Villanova event that was originally supposed to take place for just one year…that is the true spirit of Villanova.”

She went on to add, “This year’s participation was at all all-time high, with 22 of our athletics teams able to volunteer at different points throughout the weekend.”

St. Thomas of Villanova believed in challenging all within the Church to serve the least powerful, and to discover love and wisdom in the service of others. St. Thomas was known as “father of the poor,” he established social programs on behalf of the poor. The day of service was created to keep St. Thomas’ mission alive, for the past 10 years the Villanova community has been able to help thousands of local people in need.

Anne Yahiro, a senior on the track and field team, explained the impact the day of service had.

“This year we went into Philadelphia and worked alongside other groups from Villanova to clear out the weeds and garbage from a field in order for the local Church to be able to plant a garden there. The entire team was eager and enthusiastic to participate” Yahiro said.

She went on to say, “Seeing the before and after of the site was a humbling and exciting experience because we were able to actually see the direct impact we made through our work. The work we did was more than just being a part of this annual event; it was about using our abilities towards serving those around us.”

Women’s lacrosse player Chelsey Henderson, a senior on the team, said that they got to experience firsthand the impact they were having on the community.

“Our team was a part of one of the largest sites with over 500 students all working together to clear and begin the horticulture development of the land,” Henderson said. “It was really meaningful when one of the women who lived across the street from the site came over to work with us, and told us that we were “the answer to her prayers” and she was so happy to see the land being used instead of collecting trash.”

To read more please visit: http://www.villanova.com/sports/student-services/spec-rel/091515aab.html#

Skills and Achievement students from East Rockaway Junior-Senior High School and Rhame Avenue School enjoyed the surf and sand when the participated in Surfer’s Healing, a program designed to offer a therapeutic experience to children with autism.

One-by-one, approximately 20 district students paddled out into the ocean at Lido West Beach with volunteers of the program, who provided tips on how to surf and assistance on navigating the surfboard, all while giving the students praise and encouragement throughout their experience.

At the event, students were accompanied by family members and several East Rockaway School District teachers, including Rachele Banducci, Kathleen Crowley, Erin Kennedy and Kristina Imandt. According to Imandt, Surfer’s Healing offers students a calming and peaceful experience, an opportunity to socialize with others and a chance to learn something new.

“The students are so excited when they finish,” Imandt said. “Some of them who have participated in the program before, have gone on to take lessons.”

Photo Captions:

Rhame Avenue student Brandon Hidalgo stood up on a surfboard with help from a Surfer’s Healing volunteer.

Photos courtesy of East Rockaway School District

Lido Beach, N.Y. – After a 7-1 road victory against Southern Connecticut State University on Tuesday, the Adelphi University field hockey team was up bright and early on Wednesday morning to volunteer with Surfer’s Healing at Lido West Town Park in Long Beach, N.Y.

Surfers Healing calls itself the original surf camp for children and young adults with autism, and was founded in 1996. Former professional surfer Israel Paskowitz and his wife, Danielle, founded the organization for the benefit of their son Isaiah Paskowitz who was diagnosed with autism. The surf camps are free of charge to autistic children, and Surfer’s Healing has held camps in Hawaii, North Carolina, New Jersey, New York, Rhode Island, Canada and Puerto Rico. The team helped hand out t-shirts at registration, put lifejackets on the participants, and handed out medals to the surfers after they participated. The team also got to meet Town of Hempstead Supervisor Kate Murray, who also came out to support the cause.

“It was an awesome experience and all of the girls who were able to make it had a lot of fun,” said senior Maria Guerrisi. “The team would like to do it again next year!”

To learn more about Surfer’s Healing, visit http://www.surfershealing.org/ or follow them on Twitter at @SurfersHealing.

To learn more about Adelphi Athletics please visit: http://aupanthers.com/

On Friday, September 11th, both the Mercy College field hockey and women’s lacrosse teams volunteered their time at the Westchester County Center in White Plains, New York to work with Volunteer New York, a non-profit organization that set up the 9/11: Serve and Remember day.

During the day, the student-athletes created care packages for service members and first responders that included thank you cards attached to snack and treats as well as door hangers for them to show pride in America at the station houses, precincts and homes. Members from both teams were able to sign up to donate blood and also look to be placed on the bone marrow transplant list to see if they are a possible match to anyone in need.

To learn more please visit: http://www.mercyathletics.com/releases/9-11-volunteer

QUEENS, N.Y. – The Queens College men’s basketball participated in a community service project Monday afternoon at Encore Community Service Center in conjunction with Meals on Wheels of New York.

The players helped set up for lunch as well as deliver meals to seniors who were unable to make it down to the center. Encore’s mission is to provide care and service to the senior population of communities, and to any senior who comes to us for assistance. They strive to help meet their daily needs so that they may live as independently as possible with dignity and decency in a safe and caring environment.

“This is the second year in a row we have partnered with Meals on Wheels, said head coach Darryl Jacobs. “The players really enjoy their interaction with the seniors in the center and with those to whom they delivered food.”

Source: http://queensknights.com/sports/mbkb/2015-16/releases/20150915huyrip