It’s true. The East Tennessee State University athletic department has gone to the dogs.

As a promotion to highlight community service, members of ETSU’s baseball, softball, golf, tennis, track and field, triathlon and volleyball teams went to the Washington County Animal Shelter on Monday to help walk and care for several dogs from the kennels.

The idea was the brainchild of ETSU Associate Athletics Director for Student-Athlete Welfare and Compliance Kay Lennon and she explained there were a number of reasons behind it.

“We wanted something creative for the student-athletes to do for the community, but also a good stress reliever,” said Lennon, who also serves on the animal shelter’s foundation board. “There have been many studies about how it helps when you play with animals, and how they’ve even taken them into hospitals. We thought this would be a great way to be engaged with the community, but also to get a little stress relief before finals.”

 

Source: http://www.johnsoncitypress.com/Softball/2017/12/04/Shelter-visit.html?ci=stream&lp=2&p=1

El Paso, TX – The Student Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) is proud to announce that they will make a generous donation just over $600 to the Miracle League of El Paso (7499 Viscount Blvd. 79925) on Wednesday, Dec. 6 at 6 p.m. Media is encouraged to attend the event.

The SAAC introduced the “Miners Give Back” program last year and was excited to donate nearly $4,000 to the Child Crisis Center and the Humane Society last November.

The amount donated is at the discretion of each student-athlete, and the program is not mandatory. UTEP coaches and staff are also welcome to participate.

This year, the SAAC selected the Miracle League of El Paso. SAAC softball representative junior Mariah Ellis and multiple student-athletes will be in attendance to present the donation to the Miracle League.

“The Miners Give Back Program provides us student-athletes an opportunity to help people who are less fortunate than us in the El Paso area,” Ellis said. “It allows us to give back to the community and shows that student-athletes value the support that we get from the community.”

 

Source: http://www.utepathletics.com/news/2017/12/4/life-skills-miners-give-back-program-to-donate-to-miracle-league-of-el-paso-wednesday.aspx

OLD WESTBURY, N.Y. — The NYIT Athletics community’s generosity is ensuring 11 needy families across Long Island have a happy Thanksgiving.

The men’s and women’s soccer, men’s and women’s lacrosse, baseball, softball, volleyball, cross country and men’s basketball teams as well as director of intercollegiate athletics Dan Vélez and trainer Christine Barcavage each donated a basket filled with a complete Thanksgiving dinner.

Men’s basketball assistant coach Joe Mantesta’s family spearheaded the initiative.

Mantesta’s mother, Maureen, collected 34 dinner baskets in total to distribute to families in need.

This was the first year NYIT Athletics became involved, but this is the third year the Mantestas have collected the Thanksgiving dinners.

Maureen started the charity initiative in memory of her brother John Galvin.

“He and his wife always did things for charity and volunteer work. She runs it in his name,” Coach Mantesta said.

Caseworkers who deal with families in shelters and homes throughout Long Island ensure the dinner baskets get into the right hands.

Maureen has an existing relationship with those caseworkers because she works for Birthday Wishes of Long Island, a nonprofit organization that provides birthday parties for homeless children.

“We just want to thank NYIT for the generosity and the teams for doing the baskets,” Coach Mantesta said.

Over 30 student-athletes from the football, volleyball, men’s golf and women’s tennis teams participated in a Habitat for Humanity build on Saturday.

HfH provides affordable homeownership to hardworking, low-income families in Bryan and College Station.

Here’s a look at the event through the lens of social media.

 

http://www.12thman.com/news/2017/12/2/general-student-athletes-volunteer-at-habitat-for-humanity-build.aspx

Lincoln Orens Middle School’s Builders’ Club members conducted a food drive to help those in need this Thanksgiving. Under the guidance of advisor and teacher Karen Davis, students spent their Saturday afternoon on Nov. 11 at Stop and Shop on Atlantic Avenue in Oceanside, where they collected donations.

The Builders’ Club is an international middle school community service organization that is sponsored by the Island Park Kiwanis Club. Currently, 14 students participate. The group filled 11 large boxes with goods that will be distributed to less fortunate families in the community. 

The Island Park Kiwanis Club donated 10 $20 Stop & Shop gift cards to all the recipients as well, so that families could purchase turkeys and supplemental food items for Thanksgiving dinner. 

 

Photo Caption: Members of the Lincoln Orens Middle School Builders’ Club supported those in need this Thanksgiving.

 

Photos courtesy of Island Park Public Schools