The floor of the transformed Crisler Center was filled with gymnasts, but these gymnasts were not just any athletes.

The superheroes of the Oakland Gymnastics club team showed off their routines at a pre-meet exhibition which showcased children on the autism spectrum. These children were a part of the second annual Autism Awareness Meet hosted by the Michigan women’s gymnastics team Saturday.

In addition to taking place alongside a Big Ten meet, the purpose of the competition was to increase awareness of autism and how it affects those who have it. The gymnastics team did a series of informational segments on autism that appeared on the jumbotron between each event.

Each segment featured a team member who explained different facts, tips for care-giving or general knowledge about those who fall on the autism spectrum. Additionally, two young girls with autism showed off their own gymnastics and cheerleading routines between events, proving that having a disability was not going to hold them back.

The Autism Awareness meet was a part of the Let’s Go Do campaign held by the Athletic Department, which gives student-athletes the opportunity to participate in volunteer and community service opportunities throughout the year. Before the competition, spectators were able to stroll through the Hall of Honor area in Crisler Center and talk with representatives from four different autism-based organizations: Els For Autism Foundation, the Gymnastics Doctor Autism Foundation, the Sunfield Center and Jack’s Place For Autism. A select group of Michigan student-athletes also hosted a fan area that included face painting, poster making and autographs.

The meet drew a large and enthusiastic crowd to Crisler Center. Noticeably, a majority the fans were mostly young girls under 10 waving the signs they created in the fan area. The meet experience was especially heart-warming and encouraging for the girls who competed.

“Personally, my old coach had twins, one of them with Down syndrome, so any topic on mental disability is close to my heart,” said senior Sachi Sugiyama. “With this meet, I really enjoyed learning from the kids and interacting with them. It’s a really eye-opening experience, and you gain an appreciation for the little things.”

For others on the team, it was a chance to gain new insight into autism as an out-of-classroom experience.

“I’m majoring in special education, so this meet was really cool for me because I got to learn additional things about autism and work with the children one-on-one, which gives a different perspective,” said sophomore Nicole Artz.

This wasn’t the first time Michigan has hosted meets for a greater cause. The Wolverines raised money for former football coach Lloyd Carr’s fund at the Comprehensive Cancer Center.

Michigan coach Bev Plocki wants to continue this particular meet next year in hopes of drawing an even bigger crowd.

“It gives me goosebumps to see these kids doing their gymnastics or cheer routines,” Plocki said. “So many of these kids are just like everybody else. They have some really special skills, and it’s great for people to get to see them.”

The competition proved to be a success, not only for Michigan, but also for the competing team — Nebraska. Though the Wolverines defeated the Cornhuskers, 197.300-195.850, both teams participated in an introductory video stating their honor and support for being a part of this meet.

But Saturday’s meet wasn’t just about the competition — it was about bringing people together to learn more about autism, which affects one out of 68 children in the United States. And with an increased understanding of autism, everyone at Crisler Center left a winner.

Source: http://www.michigandaily.com/sports/michigan-gymnastics-flips-autism

ST. AUGUSTINE – Members from the Flagler College men’s and women’s soccer team, as well as the men’s basketball team, spend Thursday morning (Jan. 29) kicking the soccer ball around and shooting free throws with the students of Cathedral Parish School in an event called “Free Throws, Service and Kicks for Jesus”.

The Cathedral Parish School is a Kindergarten through eighth grade Catholic School in Saint Augustine. The event is a fundraiser for CPS where the students take pledges on how many goals or free throws they can make, with all proceeds going to St. Vincent de Paul Soceity. Throughout the morning the Flagler student-athletes are able to interact with local youth, helping them to meet their fundraising goals.

9125″This is something the kids look forward to for weeks and talk about all year,” said Nancy Clark, a third grade teacher at CPS. “It’s great for the Flagler athletes to come out and just be good examples for the little kids. They encourage the kids to make good grades and work hard. It’s really all about making memories and trying to connect with the children, it makes a huge impact in their lives.”

Free Throws, Service and Kicks for Jesus is an event that the men’s basketball team and soccer program has participated in for four years and is beneficial for both the youth athletes involved as well as the collegiate athletes. The event helps in more ways than one, as it allows the older athletes to get involved with the local youth, while the youth are able to raise money for less fortunate families.

“I’m delighted that we were invited to participate in the Kicks for Jesus program this morning at Cathedral Parish School. Community service is an important facet of Flagler Athletics, something in which we take real pride,” said women’s soccer head coach Ashley Martin. “This event is one that the kids of CPS look forward to all year long, which was clear to see in their enthusiasm. The morning was packed with fun and goals, and all for a great cause.”

All 16 teams in the Flagler athletics department are dedicated to serving the community and finding ways to give back all throughout the year. Flagler student-athletes volunteer their time at organizations such as Habitat for Humanity, Make-A-Wish Foundation and many Breast Cancer Organizations. When they’re not excelling on the field and in the classroom, Flagler student-athletes can often be found working hard to make a difference in people’s lives.

“It’s a pleasure to come out here and serve the community, it’s something we love doing every year,” said men’s soccer player Caleb Austin.

Source: http://www.flaglerathletics.com/news/2015/1/29/MBB_0129150444.aspx?path=mbball

Junior Victoria Caputo (Hicksville, N.Y.) of the Southern Connecticut State University gymnastics team recently spent time volunteering in conjunction with the “Hope for Jonathan” organization, one that assists youngsters with cancer.

“Hope for Jonathan” is an organization that was started by a young girl about 19 or 20 years old who’s brother was diagnosed with cancer at the age of 2. He proudly beat cancer and now is doing amazing. The girls name is Sarah and the little boy is Jonathan. What Sarah does now is goes to hospitals, houses etc. and creates “movie baskets” for the children. There are video games, movies, candy and a whole bunch of other things to cheer these little cancer fighters up. Victoria recently went with her to three children’s houses which she volunteered from 1pm to 6pm.

They went to each house and gave them baskets as well as hung out with them to cheer them up. Victoria will be doing more with them by donating a bunch of candy to hope for Jonathan.

You can learn more about them at: https://www.facebook.com/HopeForJohnathon

Teachers at New Hyde Park Memorial High School teamed up for a great cause when they participated in the school’s annual Faculty Charity Basketball Game which benefited St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. The game raised $2,742 for the organization, which was selected to benefit by the school’s Key Club. Varsity basketball coach Donald Rood organized the event and Principal Dr. Richard Faccio served as referee. The funds collected were raised through ticket sales, raffle tickets and a bake sale. In addition, the Key Club organized a Denim Day raising an additional $320 for the organization. In all, more than $3000 will be donated to St. Jude.

Varsity Basketball Coach Mr. Donald Rood also added that, “This is just one of the various community service and charitable events that New Hyde Park Basketball is involved in. For the last 19 years, New Hyde Park Basketball has conducted a Coaches vs. Cancer Basketball 3 on 3 tournament to raise money for the American Cancer Society. In that time, we have donated over $20,000 to help those with cancer. In addition for the last 9 years, we have co-sponsored with our local Elks lodge a holiday basketball clinic for local elementary school students and for the last 5 years we have participated in the Hoops for Heart program.”

New Hyde Park Basketball is a great example of athletes who continuously lead by example with their volunteer efforts.

Photo Captions:

1. New Hyde Park Memorial Teachers dressed in blue and white when they faced off at the annual Faculty Charity Basketball Game.

Photos courtesy of the Sewanhaka Central High School District

Not only did Hampton Bays Middle School students enjoy themselves at the annual Harvest Games on Nov. 21 at Hampton Bays Middle School, but they also collected more than 400 food items to be donated to the Hampton Bays Food Pantry. Wearing class colors, students in fifth- through eighth-grade rivaled each other in nine field day-type events, such as stack the cups, corn toss and tug-o-war. The eighth-grade class was deemed the winner. Seventh-grade came in second, followed by the fifth- and sixth-grades.

Students also made posters and wrote essays on the history of Thanksgiving. Each grade was challenged to collect as much food for the food pantry as possible, earning points that went toward their Harvest Games score. The sixth-grade collected the most food.

The students also raised $250 that will be donated to the Mesothelioma Applied Research Foundation in the name of William Lindsay, who passed away from the disease. Lindsay’s grandchildren attend the school, and his daughter works or the district.

Photo Caption: Hampton Bays Middle School students competed in the tug-o-war event during the annual Harvest Games on Nov. 21 at Hampton Bays Middle School.

Photo courtesy of the Hampton Bays School District