NEW HAVEN, Conn. – Student-athletes from Southern Connecticut State University helped at the Greater New Haven Chamber of Commerce Sports Council’s Dover Beach clean up event in New Haven on Sunday. Along with student-athletes from other institutions in the area, members of the Southern football team came out to help with the clean up.

This program is just one example of many community outreach events that SCSU student-athletes will take part in 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 more than 3,000 hours of their time to numerous outreach efforts, both on-campus and in Greater New Haven, during the 2012-13 academic year.

ROCKVILLE CENTRE, N.Y. (Apr. 28, 2014) – On Monday, the Molloy College softball team announced that it has raised $1,037 with its “Hits For A Cure” initiative in conjunction with the National Fastpitch Coaches Association’s Strikeout Cancer Program. All the proceeds will be donated to the American Cancer Society.

In Game 1 of the April 22 doubleheader versus the University of Bridgeport, the Lions recorded 10 hits, while in Game 2, they notched seven to bring the day’s total base hits to 17.

For more information about this initiative, please visit www.nfca.org and click on the Strikeout Cancer logo on the right-hand side.

From the NFCA’s website:
Join the American Cancer Society and the NFCA in the Strikeout Cancer Program! Since starting the Strikeout Cancer initiative over ten years ago, NFCA membership teams have raised tens of thousands of dollars to support the fight against cancer. In addition to fundraised dollars, this initiative has provided a platform to raise awareness for breast cancer as well as support for women’s cancer research.

Please visit the official American Cancer Society’s website to learn more.

Sam Houston State student-athletes from several of the University’s sports teams gathered Saturday morning (April 26) to help unload an 18-wheeler truck from the Houston Food Bank.

The Bearkat athletes gathered at the Stewart Elementary parking lot to assist the Huntsville Junior Service League in their project to provide food for 1,500 Huntsville families. The gathering marked the second time this spring the Kats have assisted in the Food Bank Distribution.

Assisting with the Junior Service League project is one of many ways Sam Houston’s student-athletes give back to the community.

The parking lot was filled with volunteers to help with the unloading as well as families to pick up the food.

“The Junior Service League contacted us to seek help uploading the Food Bank truck and the athletes were excited to assist,” SHSU Associate Athletic Director for Student Services Chris Thompson said. “The kids found it especially rewarding to see the number of families who showed up to receive the food. Everyone was so appreciative. It was a great day.”

Source: http://www.yourhoustonnews.com/tomball/news/bearkats-and-the-houston-food-bank-bearkat-athletes-assist-in/article_7384c642-cd83-11e3-9bb0-001a4bcf887a.html

Hempstead, NY – The Hofstra University Department of Athletics was honored at the 30th Annual Hofstra Student Leadership Awards Ceremony on Wednesday with a pair of awards.

Each year the Hofstra Student Leadership Awards recognizes outstanding students, student organizations and members of the campus community who significantly contribute to the improvement of student life at Hofstra.

Athletics earned the Good Neighbor and Community Service Event of the Year Awards from the Department of Student Affairs, Student Leadership & Activities.

“We are thrilled that the outstanding work of our student-athletes continues to be recognized,” commented Hofstra Vice President and Director of Athletics Jeffrey A. Hathaway. “We ask our student-athletes to be the best they can be in the classroom, on the fields of play and in the community. To be acknowledged for their work in the community is something very special and we are quite proud of them and their involvement with the local community.”

The “Shake-A-Rake” program earned Athletics the Good Neighbor Award, while the “Reading with Pride” program allowed the department to take home the Community Service Event honor.

In November, Hofstra student-athletes took to the streets with rakes in hand, eager to assist community members clear the leaves from their properties.

The “Reading with Pride” endeavor is sponsored by the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) and a multitude of Hofstra student-athletes went to local elementary schools to read their favorite books to the children.

Candidates for the “Good Neighbor Award” are students who reside off-campus and develop relationships with their neighbors and strive to embody the P.R.I.D.E. principles in the community. They also live purposely by educating themselves and other students who live off-campus by demonstrating exemplary leadership, organization, and hospitality.

Candidates for the award of “Community Service Event of the Year” must link with a non-profit organization and create an event that fosters collaboration and shared giving, displays acts of compassion that serve as a role model to other campus organizations, and raises awareness for a cause that promotes action and reaction. The award is presented to students and clubs who collaborate with the Division of Student Affairs and reinforces humanitarian change in the midst of academia.

Source: http://www.gohofstra.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_LANG=C&ATCLID=209478009&DB_OEM_ID=22200

SALT LAKE CITY — If it wasn’t for his football coach’s commitment to doing more than winning football games with his young athletes, Connor Haller said he probably wouldn’t care about helping other people as much as he does.

“I don’t know if I’d have a desire to do it like I do,” the Olympus senior said of participating in service projects with his team, his school and on his own. “Almost every week, after we watched film, we would go help somewhere, like with Eagle Scout projects or something. That’s kind of where I developed my love for service.”

Some weeks, that was a tough sacrifice for a teenage football player still recovering from a brutal Friday night game.

“You always feel good after service,” Haller said. “You always feel like it was a good use of your time, even though sometimes you want a nap. The service makes you feel so great about yourself.”

Haller is among 13 senior football players who earned scholar-athlete awards from the Utah chapter of the National Football Foundation and College Hall of Fame. The seniors apply for the award, which includes a crystal trophy, a ring donated by Jostens, and a $1,000 scholarship to the college of their choice. Earning awards for athletic accomplishment and/or academic achievement is nothing unusual.

But the critical component to the scholarships awarded by the group at the chapter’s 20th annual banquet Tuesday night at UVU is commitment to community service.

“It’s the most important aspect,” said board member and Corner Canyon athletic director Steve Park of balancing service with athletic skill and academic accolades. “Because I think that’s the true character of student-athletes. That aspect is really what shows what those kids are all about.”

It’s a priority that many high school coaches, teachers and administrators share. One of the service projects that Haller was involved in came from his participation in a service class, while another was a yearlong project undertaken by his entire school at the suggestion of their principal, Mark Manning.

Manning was at a national conference as part of his service for the Utah High School Activities Association’s executive committee when he learned about Samaritan’s Feet. It’s a program that raises money to buy shoes for financially disadvantaged schoolchildren. He suggested it to his student body officers and a group that Haller belongs to, the Be Strong Committee.

“Mr. Manning just talked about how we’re so lucky and fortunate to have this nice, new school, and he thought it would be a great way to show the community, and give back, that we really are appreciative and grateful,” Haller said. “There are kids in our own district (who) aren’t fortunate enough to have just the basics, like shoes. Our goal was to raise $8,000, which equals about 500 shoes, and give them to kids in our district.”

Manning said that while he made the suggestion, it was the students who ran with the idea. Dozens of students assumed responsibility and leadership for the fundraising efforts, which spanned December and January.

“It’s really critical for our students to participate in service,” Manning said. “It’s a great way for our students to appreciate what they have and reach out, in a very small way, and help others.”

The project will end on May 2 when about 75 students, who either provided leadership or donated at least $20, will deliver the shoes to an elementary school in the district. Officials have already asked the elementary students to provide their shoe sizes if they want shoes, and Manning said nearly every student in the school has expressed a desire to have a pair of shoes.

Read the entire story at: http://www.deseretnews.com/article/865601518/High-school-football-Olympus-senior-1-of-13-honored-for-community-service.html