Nov. 28, 2013 MADISON, Wis. — University of Wisconsin student-athletes are among the most civically involved in the country. Since May of 2012, student-athletes have volunteered 3,959 hours to the Madison community and appeared at 147 events.

Badgers student-athletes interact with fans across the Madison area at various events, from visiting children at the American Family Children’s Hospital to collecting food donations with the Red and White Hunger Fight. Here, in their own words, UW student-athletes share why they give back and the importance of doing so:

Brittany Ammerman, Women’s Hockey
“I am thankful for community service and Badgers Give Back because of the smiles it brings to others and also to myself. Being able to participate in the community as an athlete allows me to use my abilities as a platform to reach out to others and make an impact away from the rink. I am thankful that community service provides me this opportunity to use my athletic talent in a positive way.”

Duje Dukan, Men’s Basketball
“Community service is an incredible opportunity to create a bridge between the community and the student-athletes, but also the university as well. It allows us to show kids that we are regular people and try to pass along the life messages that we have learned. It’s important because as a kid, when I had the opportunity to get advice or talk to an athlete, I was all eyes and ears.”

Katie Delaney, Women’s Swimming & Diving
“I am thankful for community service because it allows me to show my thanks to the community that I grew up in and now supports me as a Badger. Through community service, I am able to show kids that they can achieve their dreams like I did.”

Football leads all UW teams in terms of community service, having donated 1,337 hours to improving the Madison community since May. The group is led by its 23 seniors, the most heavily involved class in Badgers history. Collectively, the seniors have volunteered more than 2,000 hours during their five-year careers.

Ethan Hemer, Football
“I am thankful for community service because it gives me an opportunity to give back to those who have supported me throughout my time here. The community service that we have here at Wisconsin, our opportunities, provide us with a great chance to give back to those who need it most, and it’s also a very rewarding feeling to see the responses and the looks on people’s faces when we are able to help out others.”

Jacob Pedersen, Football
“I’m thankful to be a part of the Wisconsin Badgers family because of the opportunity it provides to give back to the kids. I, too, grew up watching athletes like myself and other guys on the team. Seeing sometimes, when you come down after a game I will give a kid my game gloves and to see the smile on their face and to know that it really made their days… moments like those are really why I am thankful to be a part of this family.”

UW student-athletes give back for one reason: to thank you, Badgers fans, for all of your support. We are thankful for YOU. Happy Thanksgiving!

Source: http://www.uwbadgers.com/sports/give-back/spec-rel/112813aaa.html?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=twitter

As part of the ‘Cuse Cares program, the Student-Athlete Advisory Council (S.A.A.C) partnered with the Office of Engagement Programs at Hendricks Chapel on their annual Thanksgiving Dinner Drive. The purpose of the drive is to assemble baskets with important Thanksgiving ingredients to distribute to those in the community who cannot afford them. Watch more here.

Teams including softball, men’s and women’s track and field, men’s and women’s cross country, men’s soccer, volleyball, the dance team and the cheerleaders all collected items and helped to assemble baskets that were distributed throughout the Syracuse community.

The ‘Cuse Cares Community Service Program, created in 1999, immerses Syracuse University student-athletes and coaches in the community. For the past 12 years the student-athletes have won the Chancellor’s Award for Public Service and Community Engagement, given annually to Syracuse University students and student organizations that exemplify the highest ideal of sustained, quality service to the Syracuse community. Orange student-athletes and coaches are involved in various community projects, including the Verizon Foundation’s Literacy Program, the United Way Success by Six ‘Bring on the Books’ campaign, the Make-A-Wish Foundation, the Vera House, the Salvation Army, the Nottingham Retirement Center, the VA Hospital, and Coaches vs. Cancer.

Source: http://www.suathletics.com/news/2010/11/25/GEN_1125103809.aspx

When University of Bridgeport head women’s basketball coach Stephanie Del Preore came to campus three years ago, she arrived with a blueprint not only to create a winning program, but also with a plan to honor her late father who passed away in 2002 after a courageous battle with liver and kidney disease.

While the basketball part of the equation is an on-going process that takes a great amount of recruiting and hard work in practice, Del Preore’s brainchild to honor her late father continues to reach new heights year after year.

On February 16, 2013, the University of Bridgeport held its third annual “Donate Life” Day when the Purple Knights hosted Queens College in an East Coast Conference basketball doubleheader.

Stated coach Del Preore, “I’m so proud of how things have grown with our “Donate Life” event as we have now raised over $6,400 for Donate Life Connecticut over the last three years. This year things were even bigger and better as we raised $2,700. The community support both on and off campus has been great. In 2002, I lost my father to a battle with liver and kidney disease. In 1996 he received a double liver/kidney transplant which prolonged his life six more years. I was fortunate to have him at every basketball game I played from middle school to high school, and then my freshman and sophomore year at Marist College. Losing him was the worst thing I’ve ever went through, and basketball was my outlet. I always said that when I became a head coach I was going to do something to honor my father, my hero and my inspiration.”

All proceeds from the day (all tickets sales and a variety of raffles) were donated to the Donate Life Connecticut organization to help raise awareness about organ and tissue donations to help save lives.

Raffle prizes, which were drawn at both the women’s and men’s game, included a variety of tickets to sporting events in the tri-state area and New England, a variety of hotel stays throughout the area, gift baskets plus many gift cards to both local and national retailers and restaurants.

University of Bridgeport Director of Athletics Jay Moran praised his head women’s basketball coach saying, “The amount of time and effort that Steph has put into the “Donate Life” Days is truly awesome. When she first came to UB, she told me of her idea to honor her Dad, and I told her let me know how we can help as a department, and with the help of all the members of our UB Athletics family and many other people both on and off campus, the day had grown into something truly special and something we look forward to every season.”

For more information on the Donate Life program and how to register to be an organ and tissue donor, please visit the Donate Life Connecticut website at www.ctorganandtissuedonation.org

Provided by the Bridgeport Sports Information Department.

Students at Pasadena Park Elementary School received about 80 special visitors Thursday.

Athletes participating in today’s NCAA Division II Cross Country Championships, stopped by the school to meet the kids and do a little running.

In Emily Lieb’s fourth-grade classroom, the women’s cross country team from the University of Minnesota Duluth talked to students about why they like to run and what it’s like to be a student-athlete.

“I was a huge soccer player,” said Allie Rudin, a junior majoring in marketing at the school.

The athletes talked about their majors, there were future teachers, doctors, writers, coaches and businesswomen. Pasadena kids asked them about their favorite sports, besides running, of course.

Eric Sawyer, president and chief executive officer of the Spokane Sports Commission, said this is the second year the NCAA Division II championships have come to Spokane. The first time was two years ago. This year’s roster includes 57 women’s teams and 56 men’s teams.

“We try with every event to expose athletes to younger kids,” Sawyer said.

The NCAA likes to connect with students as well.

“Having the cross country student-athletes go out and interact with a local elementary school helps to connect the students not only with the sport of cross country, but also allows them to interact with college students from across the country,” said Bridget Johnson Tetteh, Great Northwest Athletic Conference assistant commissioner.

The students were inspired.

“I think all of them were very beautiful,” said Sophia Chreiki, 9, a student in Lieb’s class who likes to play basketball. “I want the heart of an athlete like all of them.”

“I think they’re really cool,” said Ellie Engeland, 9, who likes to play soccer and softball. “I want to grow up to be just like them.”

After the athletes answered questions, they passed around posters the students could keep and signed autographs. There was a little bit of time left in Lieb’s class, so they played a spirited round of “Heads Up, Seven Up,” before heading outside to run around the playground.

Principal Robyn Davis said the experience was wonderful. Many teachers logged on to Google Maps and showed students where the athletes were from.

“The teachers have had as much fun as the kids,” Davis said.

Janelle Sordelet, a Parent Teacher Organization volunteer, said the students appreciated the visits because many of them also run in a club that meets after school. Thursday’s event brought out the runner in all of them.

“I have not seen this many kids running out here before,” Sordelet said.

Source: Lisa Leinberger @ http://www.spokesman.com/stories/2013/nov/23/cross-country-runners-visit-pasadena-park/