Oct. 4, 2013: The American Cancer Society and Autism Speaks.

Over 300 Boston University student-athletes volunteered their time at two major charity events in the city on Sunday. The turnout was an amazing show of support for two of the Terrier’s most important chartable organizations, The American Cancer Society and Autism Speaks.

At the Hatch Shell on the Charles River Esplanade, more than 280 Boston University student-athletes assisted the American Cancer Society’s “Making Strides Against Breast Cancer Walk”. The Terriers took on various responsibilities at the event which raises more than $3 million each year with over 40,000 walkers participating annually. The student-athletes arrived at the Esplanade around 6 a.m. and were the first to interact with the walkers, registering all participants and tracking donations brought in throughout the day.

The community service outreach project was organized by the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC). The American Cancer Society uses the annual event to raise awareness and donations in the fight against breast cancer.

“Each October, hundreds of Boston University student-athletes donate their time to help the American Cancer Society finish the fight against breast cancer,” said Tara Shea, planning specialist for Making Strides Against Breast Cancer. “Their enthusiasm and spirit are essential to the success of Making Strides in Boston.”

While the Making Strides Walk was going on at the Esplanade, the entire Boston University men’s hockey team continued its partnership with Autism Speaks by volunteering at the 13th annual Greater Boston Walk Now for Autism Speaks fundraising and awareness event at Suffolk Downs in East Boston. More than 18,000 people, including individuals with autism, their families and friends joined together at the event each year for the walk.

The men’s hockey team arrive at the event before 8 a.m. and assisted in various aspects of the day from setup to breakdown including registering walkers, speaking with participants and interacting with children and parents throughout the day. The Terriers’ captains also had the honor of helping cut the starting banner and lead the walk. During this upcoming season the BU men’s hockey team will continue to wear blue Autism Speaks puzzle-piece patches on their jerseys to help promote Autism awareness.

About Autism Speaks
Autism Speaks is the world’s leading autism science and advocacy organization. It is dedicated to funding research into the causes, prevention, treatments and a cure for autism; increasing awareness of autism spectrum disorders; and advocating for the needs of individuals with autism and their families. Autism Speaks was founded in February 2005 by Suzanne and Bob Wright, the grandparents of a child with autism. Mr. Wright is the former vice chairman of General Electric and chief executive officer of NBC and NBC Universal. Since its inception, Autism Speaks has committed over $180 million to research and developing innovative resources for families. Each year Walk Now for Autism Speaks events are held in more than 95 cities across North America. For more information about Autism Speaks click http://www.autismspeaks.org/

About Making Strides Against Breast Cancer and the American Cancer Society
Making Strides Against Breast Cancer is the largest network of breast cancer fundraising and awareness events in the nation, uniting nearly 300 communities to finish the fight. For 100 years, the American Cancer Society (ACS) has works to save lives and create a world with less cancer and more birthdays. Together with millions of our supporters worldwide, we’re helping people stay well, helping people get well, finding cures, and fighting back against cancer. For more information about the American Cancer Society click http://www.cancer.org/index

Source: http://www.goterriers.com/genrel/100413aac.html

The SUNY Oneonta student athletes have been doing their part lately, as they have been involved in various community service projects while raising money for breast cancer awareness. Nearly half of the varsity athletic teams were quite busy during the month of October in and around the greater Oneonta area.

The largest event for the student athletes was its annual leaf raking event in which they travel to local residences and businesses to help rake leaves for those older residents and business owners who can’t rake their own leaves. All tolled, SUNY Oneonta student athletes from eight teams raked a total of 43 residences and businesses during the week of Oct. 21-26. Student athletes from the cross country/track & field program, men’s and women’s basketball, men’s and women’s lacrosse, baseball and softball all contributed to the effort.

Link to photo gallery

This is what some of our student athletes had to say about their community service efforts,

Senior Kyle McCaleb (Baldwinsville/C.W. Baker), Cross Country/Track & Field:
“Helping our community, especially when the community supports us as much as ours does, is extremely important to our athletes, and is a great way to show our appreciation for the support we receive every day. Furthermore, realizing the importance of helping community members in need, and then acting on this realization, served to humble and educate our team, providing an important lesson in developing us into civic minded caring adults that our coaches, parents, and mentors would be proud of.”

Junior Nicole Brieva (Kings Park/Kings Park), Softball:
“This is my third year doing leaf raking, however, it is the first time I was actually able to talk to the owner of the home. Upon arrival, the team looked at each other in shock of how large the property was and how many leaves we had to rake! Soon, the owner, Gina, greeted us with donuts and apple cider. She told us a story about how her husband had passed two years ago and how he built their house himself. Her son visits once in a while and helps her with the landscaping, however, she usually does all of the work herself. She kept on saying to us that anything we do is a huge help to her, even if it we only did a little. Her energy and positivity made the experience even more fulfilling and it felt great to see not only how great the yard was once we were finished, but to see the appreciation in her smile.”

Senior Stefanie Rodriguez (Yorktown Heights/Yorktown), Lacrosse:
“Having the opportunity to help out around the community with my teammates was a wonderful experience. The community was more than appreciative of our efforts, which made the day very enjoyable. My teammates are already looking forward to the leaf raking project next fall.”

Senior Sean McMurray (Medford/Patchogue-Medford), Baseball:
“It was nice being able to do something for the town of Oneonta, and getting just getting to know the guys outside of a baseball setting made it that much better.”

Junior Zach Mager (New City/Clarkstown South), Basketball:
“It feels great giving back to the community and helping others, the guys had a great time raking and working together”

Senior Alyshia Crawford (Oxford/Oxford), Basketball:
“I feel as though leaf raking is a good way to get in touch with the community and help people who are in need of this service. This puts a positive idea on the athletics program and their willingness to help and be involved in the city of Oneonta.”

Along with the leaf raking, women’s volleyball and women’s soccer raised money for breast cancer awareness and research in support of breast cancer awareness month. The volleyball team held its annual Dig Pink Invitational tournament to support the AVCA’s Dig Pink Initiative while also selling t-shirts. The volleyball team has raised between $1,000-1,500 annually for this important initiative.

Women’s soccer held a “Score for a Cure” event during its final home weekend of the season where they received donations from those who attended their games on Friday and Saturday. The team raised $275 for their first time organizing such an event, which will be donated to breast cancer research.

In addition to the leaf raking, the softball team also helped Habitat for Humanity along with helping at the annual Oneonta Boys and Girls Club Halloween Party.

Source: http://www.oneontaathletics.com/news/2013/11/5/bb_1105130553.aspx

Central Islip, N.Y. – On Friday, October 25 the East Coast Conference held its first Team Up to Clean Up day. Three member institutions, Dowling College, Molloy College, and New York institute of Technology, provided clean up efforts in their local communities as part of the ECC’s one-day community service initiative.

“Team Up to Clean Up is one part of an ongoing effort by the East Coast Conference and our member schools to further display their commitment to partnering with and giving back to their communities,” stated ECC Commissioner, Dr. Robert Dranoff. “We look forward to continuing this program as well as promoting many other activities which involve our other ECC schools too, all of whom work hard throughout the year to make a difference.”

Dowling College’s efforts included partnering with Keep Islip Clean, an affiliate of Keep America Beautiful, Inc., for the eighth consecutive year. “This is the eighth year that KIC had the good fortune of partnering with the Dowling student-athletes and their commitment and hard work are truly inspiring,” said Nancy Cochran, Executive Director of Keep Islip Clean. “In just one day these teams made a huge improvement not only in the beauty of the community but also in the health of the environment. The Dowling Clean Team is currently the single largest group volunteering through KIC and I truly value all their hard work.”

Over 300 student-athletes, coaches, and staff members spread throughout the community to pick up trash. In all, the Golden Lions collected over 130 bags of trash from locations such as train stations, sports complexes, and local shopping centers in the Islip community. The men’s lacrosse team also pitched in by landscaping at the Town of Islip Garden and Compost Facility.

“Over the past eight years, we have developed a great partnership with the Keep Islip Clean organization, “Dowling’s Vice President for Athletics, Melody Cope, stated. “This year we are excited to join forces with other members of the East Coast Conference, to extend our clean up efforts throughout Long Island.”

Molloy College’s clean up took place in the Village of Hempstead. “The clean up event was a great opportunity for our student-athletes to do something positive in a community that is so close to us,” remarked Molloy’s Director of Athletics, Susan Cassidy-Lyke. “They really enjoyed the outcome of their work and have already volunteered to do it again in the Spring.”

The Lions student-athletes, coaches and staff totaled over 164 hours of service in cleaning up sidewalks, weeding, laying fresh soil and mulch, and painting street guardrails.

“Our community is very thankful for the work the wonderful student-athletes from Molloy College did this weekend, and for the example they are setting for young people throughout Long Island,” said Village of Hempstead Mayor, Wayne Hall, Sr. “They did a phenomenal job of enhancing the beauty of our Village, and we will be cheering them on when they participate in, and, with all luck, win the East Coast Conference Championship.”

NYIT did their part by cleaning up at Manorhaven Beach Park in Port Washington and Manhasset Valley Park in Manhasset. Student-athletes from seven different teams cleaned the parks of debris and trash, including some unique finds such as umbrellas, field hockey sticks, and tires.

Director of Athletics, Clyde Doughty, Jr., was elated about NYIT’s involvement, saying, “The NYIT Bears were extremely excited to be part of the ECC clean-up initiative. The ability for our student-athletes to participate in community service activities such as this to enables them to understand their blessings of being a student-athlete.”

“Community service and engagement is one of the key highlights of a student-athletes collegiate career,” said NYIT’s Student-Athlete Advisory Committee President, Chinyere Udoh. “By participating in these events we are showing that NYIT cares and takes the time to reach out to community members. These interactions show that we care about positively impacting society and the younger generation.”

“Our first ‘Team Up to Clean Up’ day was a clear success,” said Dranoff. “The idea was for our student-athletes to work locally and help to beautify public places, reduce waste, and make a difference in their neighborhoods. Dowling College has been involved with the Keep Islip Clean program for many years and Molloy and NYIT followed that idea within their own communities.”

Dranoff also noted the kind support provided by Henry Schein, Inc., of Melville, N.Y., distributor of health care products and services, for Team Up to Clean Up. Supplies including protective gloves, garbage bags and wipes were graciously donated and used by the student-athletes.

Justin Hickam, Regional Sales Manager for Sports Medicine at Henry Schein, worked closely with the ECC to arrange for this donation. “On behalf of Henry Schein,” noted Mr. Hickam, “it was our pleasure to assist our local communities and the athletic programs at Molloy, Dowling and NYIT. When everyone chips in and works together to support their neighborhoods, we can accomplish great things.”

Source: http://www.eccsports.org/information/general-news/2013-14/103113_teamuptocleanup

Pace student-athletes participated in “Make A Difference” Day this past Saturday as they helped out in the local community. Members of the Pace Baseball, Softball, Cheerleading and Swimming and Diving teams participated in the event.

The Pace Baseball team along with Assistant Athletic Director for Compliance Kayne Gutierrez went to the John A. Coleman School as part of a year-long partnership with the Coleman School. The players helped build toys and cardboard houses for the children to utilize during the school year.

Gutierrez added, “Make a Difference Day was a great experience for our student-athletes. I went with members of our baseball team to the John A. Coleman School and they really enjoyed helping out and building new toys for the children to use.”

Softball Head Coach Claudia Stabile took her team along with Swimming and Diving, Cheerleading as well as other Pace students to the United Methodist Church in White Plains in partnership with the Pleasantville Rotary Club. They repackaged donated goods to give to other non-profits in Westchester County.

Coach Stabile commented, “Our softball program and additional members in our group for Make A Difference Day had a great time assisting the United Methodist Church. Our student-athletes enjoyed giving back to the Westchester community and we look forward to future service events in the area.”

Source: http://pleasantville.patch.com/groups/sports/p/pace-athletes-make-a-difference-in-the-community

October is Breast Cancer Awareness month. Everywhere you go, you see the infamous pink ribbon, or stores, cars, and classrooms decorated in pink. Even the sports world gets in on it. During the month, players will don pink wrist bands, socks, cleats, tape, eye black, and anything else they can make pink. Teams will even add pink outlines to their uniforms, while the referees in the NFL use pink penalty flags.
University of Massachusetts Boston Athletics are no different. Women’s Soccer held their annual “Think Pink” game; they wore pink warm-up shirts before games. Many other student-athletes can be seen wearing pink attire to show their support.

Earlier this month, on Oct. 6, several members of the Men’s and Women’s Ice Hockey and Cross-Country teams braved the cold and rainy elements to volunteer at the “Making Strides Against Breast Cancer” walk along the Charles River on Storrow Drive. There, the student-athletes assisted in setting up water stations, handing out refreshments, and cheering on walkers set to complete the five-mile walk.
From 7 a.m. to 11 a.m., the Beacon volunteers worked tirelessly to help event organizers set up water stations at various points along the waterfront. Once that was done, the volunteers cheered on and handed out water to the walkers. There were countless numbers of walkers decked out in pink to show their support as well as many, many women wearing shawls that said “survivor” on the front. There were even a few walkers who were currently battling cancer. Some, sadly, carried pictures of loved ones who lost their battle with breast cancer.

The only real downside of the day were the cold temperatures, which caused a few volunteers to lose feeling in their fingers, but they knew the struggle was nothing compared to what cancer patients go through.
Women’s Hockey forward Kayle Kiernan said, “sometimes it’s not all about hockey, but rather helping the community in all ways possible and giving back to the city that helps us come together as a team.” She added “We are all grateful for the opportunities to give back such as the Breast Cancer Walk where we could support those who have lost loved ones. It’s very important to show our support and we all are happy to help.”

When the day was done, the teams helped pack up the tables and water before heading home. The volunteers either walked back or crammed into a van and were driven back to the starting point where they rejoined their coaches and returned to campus.

Despite the harsh conditions and having to wake up early on a Sunday, Beacons athletics were happy to assist with a great cause. Men’s Hockey goalie Zach Andrews said it best: “our team was fortunate enough to have the opportunity to help out for a great cause.” He added, “it was awesome being with the whole team and sharing that experience with each other… It was very humbling understanding what some of these people went through.

Source: http://www.umassmedia.com/sports/umass-boston-athletics-volunteers-at-breast-cancer-walk/article_46ff0dac-385b-11e3-a0ce-0019bb30f31a.html
Making Strides benefits the American Cancer Society. For more information or to make a donation, please visit http://www.cancer.org/.