ROCKVILLE CENTRE, N.Y. (Oct. 6, 2014) – From September 22 through October 2, the Molloy College softball team did a midnight run with Sr. Diane Capuano from Campus Ministry, as well as with the Caldwell University softball program. The Lions collected clothing donations — everything ranging from boots and jeans to sweatpants and jackets — for distribution to people in need.

“This was a great opportunity for us to do something positive for those who are experiencing difficulties,” commented Head Softball Coach Susan Cassidy-Lyke. “It really puts everything in perspective.”

“It was a great experience to help people that needed our support, and it was awesome to do it with my team and a fellow team like Caldwell,” said Molloy senior Brenda Lee (Corona, Calif.). “It shows that athletics can bring people together and really show positivity.”

“It was an eye-opening and humbling experience. It was also great that we could come together with Caldwell softball to give back to those who are in need,” said Molloy junior Tracey Balinskas (Edison, N.J.). “We might be on different sides of the field during the game, but we both shared this amazing experience together.”

The women’s lacrosse team volunteered at the Laxin Against Eating Disorders Fall Lacrosse Tournament Sunday the 27th of September at Brookhaven Campus.

Protect HEAL and Just 4 Girls Lacrosse teamed up for the third consecutive year.

Project HEAL was co-founded by three teenage girls. Liana Rosenman, Kristina Saffran, & Becky Allen met while undergoing treatment for anorexia nervosa, helped each other to reach full recovery, and then wanted to help others achieve it as well. In the spring of 2008, they founded Project HEAL to raise money for others suffering with eating disorders who want to recover but are unable to afford treatment.

Oakdale, N.Y. – Members of the Dowling College women’s basketball team participated in the Special Olympics New York, Long Island Region Fall Classic over the weekend. The event was hosted by Cantiague Park and Hicksville Firehouse Station No. 3 in Hicksville, N.Y.

The games took place in both locations with over 600 athletes participating in events such as softball, soccer, golf, bocce and cross-country. Dowling’s players and coaches were involved in various events including the cross country race and various golf stations creating a fun and positive environment for the athletes.

Senior Nicole Caggiano stated, “Volunteering with Special Olympics was truly an amazing experience for me. Seeing the smiles on the contestants faces and witnessing a large support group was amazing. It is great to know that even though we are not all the same on the outside, we still maintain the desire inside of us to compete at what we do best.”

Special Olympics New York is a private non-profit 501 (c)(3) organization that provides year-round sports training and athletic competition in a variety of Olympic-style sports for all children and adults with intellectual disabilities giving them continuing opportunities to develop physical fitness, demonstrate courage, experience joy, and participate in a sharing of skills and friendship with their families, Special Olympics athletes and the community. Through their participation in Special Olympics New York athletes gain confidence and build a positive self-image, which carries into the classroom, the home, the workplace and the community.

Provided by the Dowling Sports Information Department.

NEW HAVEN, Conn. – Student-athletes from Southern Connecticut State University began academic work with students at the Clinton Avenue School in New Haven on Wednesday. Members of the women’s basketball, women’s cross country and baseball teams took part in the session, which featured small group reading sessions.

This program is just one example of many community outreach events that SCSU student-athletes will take part in during the 2014-15 academic year as part of the Tim Greer Insurance Agency Community Service Cup.

Initiated in September, 2008, the ‘Community Service Cup’ program provides a competitive format that allows student-athletes to gain an enriched experience through engagement with the on-campus and local communities by supporting ventures of traditional citizens, campus community members and peer students and student-athletes. SCSU student-athletes volunteered nearly 4,000 hours of their time to numerous outreach efforts, both on-campus and in Greater New Haven, during the 2013-14 academic year.

For more information on the Tim Greer Insurance Agency, visit www.timgreerinsurance.com

To learn more please visit: http://www.southernctowls.com/news/2014/9/24/GEN_0924141739.aspx

Lehigh student-athletes want to make a difference. They have a genuine interest and desire to help others, which was on full display in front of Goodman Stadium last Saturday as the Student-Athlete Council (SAC) sold wristbands prior to the Lehigh football game vs. Monmouth.

The student-athletes were selling the bands in honor of former football player Brett Snyder ’00 and Snyder Family Medical Assistance. Diagnosed with ALS, Snyder is in the midst of a battle against what’s also known as Lou Gehrig’s Disease.10251

The idea to raise money for a cause began last school year with MacKenzie Velasquez ’16 of the softball team. She worked with Community Relations Coordinator Roseann Corsi over the summer, discussing ideas to raise money for a charity.

“As I began working with MacKenzie, I could see the passion she had to help,” said Corsi. “She wanted to make a difference.”

Last year, several members of the football team shaved their heads for a youngster named Jack Knudson who was an adopted member of their team. Seeing the difference the football team was making sparked a desire to help. Velasquez couldn’t shave her head, but she wanted to do something. Details needed to be finalized and SAC needed to decide what charity to raise money for, but most importantly, the passion to help was evident.

Junior women’s lacrosse player Nicole Isdaner ’16 was speaking with Corsi this fall when she brought up the idea to raise money for ALS. With the increased awareness of ALS due to the Ice Bucket Challenge, so too has the sobering thought that a number of people know someone who’s been touched by the disease. Corsi immediately thought of Snyder.

“I heard about Brett Snyder and thought it was a perfect idea to raise money for his medical assistance,” said Velasquez. “Everyone from SAC was on board, so we got the bands ordered. Roseann helped get the process rolling; everything happened so quickly.”

The Mountain Hawks sold brown wrist bands that read “Lehigh fights ALS” for just a two dollar donation. All the money is being donated directly to Snyder Family Medical Assistance.

The cause is extra special because it hits so close to home. As a former teammate of Snyder, Kody Fedorcha ’00 is taken back by the continued funds and support from the Lehigh family.

“To hear that more Lehigh student athletes want to contribute just blows me away,” he said. “I’m certain few, if any of them, personally know Brett and that’s why it means so much. I could not be more proud of my alma mater and the high character of the Lehigh students.”

To read more please visit: http://lehighsports.com/news/2014/10/1/GEN_1001142339.aspx