Many student athletes stay busy enough balancing practices, games and academics. Senior running back and football captain Diano Pachote takes it a step further by putting in about 20 hours a week volunteering for multiple causes.

Pachote was named as one of the 146 nominees to the Allstate Good Works Team. The team, which will be shortened to the final 22 players in late September, honors athletes for “their dedication to volunteerism and enriching the lives of others.”

Senior defensive lineman Adam O’Shea believes that Pachote being nominated for the award is a reflection of the values of the football team.

“The Chapman football program is more focused on building good people than it is on building good football players, and that’s something we pride ourselves on,” O’Shea said. “We may not beat you on the field, but we’ll beat you in the classroom and out in the community.”

Pachote is relatively new to the world of community service, as he started volunteering during his first year at Chapman.

“When I came in as a freshman, I saw all the guys I admired and looked up to on the team going out and giving back to the community, and I wanted to be just like them,” Pachote said.

Pachote runs a chapter of the Be The Match on campus, which is a national bone marrow donation program. He is in charge of running the annual drive to sign people up to donate.

“It touches home because one of our guys on the team, (junior offensive lineman) Hunter Spriggs, was diagnosed with leukemia over the summer,” Pachote said.” The good news is things are looking up for him, but knowing someone who is actually affected and has a personal stake in it makes the people we are helping much more real.”

Pachote and the team participate in other community service activities, like working with Chapman Athletics to organize a day for special needs athletes who didn’t qualify for the Special Olympics.

Pachote, O’Shea and about 20 other Chapman athletes spent the day as a “buddy” to one or two special needs athletes, engaging with the athletes in activities like passing a soccer ball and hosting their own awards ceremony. Although the program was started by sophomore punter Elias Deeb, Pachote and O’Shea are also working to make sure it continues annually and involves more Chapman athletes.

Another initiative Pachote leads for the football team is their work serving food to families in need with Caterina’s Club. The organization is based in Anaheim and combats hunger in Orange County. It is run by Bruno Serato, owner of the Anaheim White House restaurant, which burned down in February.

Most recently, Pachote and the team decided to gear their efforts toward relief for Hurricanes Harvey and Irma. The football team plans to partner with other Chapman Athletics organizations to donate old clothes to those who have lost items in the aftermath of the storms.

“Our head coach, Bob Owens, always encourages us to think about what we can do to give back,” Pachote said. “After the hurricane, he got us all together and was like, ‘You’re all smart guys, I’m sure you can think of a way to help.’ We may not have the deepest pockets, but if there’s a way for us to help, we will find it.”

O’Shea said he sees Pachote as an effective leader and role model for the rest of the team.

“The biggest thing that I think Diano does well as a leader is make himself completely available to the team, no matter what they need,” O’Shea said. “He’s a good example on the field, in the weight room and in the classroom, and he’s definitely someone that the younger guys can look up to.”

As a captain, Pachote works to ensure that the rest of the team is also involved in the community, and views his leadership position holistically by encouraging the team to become well-rounded in all aspects of their lives.

“I don’t really base my leadership style off of anyone,” Pachote said. “I know that the things I needed when I was younger on the team were more academic and professional than athletic, so I try and share as much knowledge as I have with the team so they can surpass where I am now once they’re seniors.”

Source: http://www.thepantheronline.com/sports/diano-pachote-setting-bar-high-student-athletes

WORCESTER, Mass. – The Assumption College women’s swimming and diving team participated in the annual Swim Across America on September 9^th at Roger Wheeler Beach, Narragansett, R.I., to raise money for breast cancer research.

Assumption raised a total of $7,200, which was the second highest mark in program history after raising $7,660 at last year’s event. This year’s total is the highest for any single gender team at the event. Swim Across America has raised more than $65 million for cancer research in the past decade, including $180,000 this year.

“As someone who’s recently watched a loved one lose their battle to cancer I feel really humbled to be able to take part in an event such as SAA and know that in some small way I might be making a difference in somebody’s life.” Junior captain Morgan Nicholls said.

Assumption was one of nine colleges and universities that took part in the event. Other participants included local swimmers from high schools and masters groups. All of the swimmers that competed in the event were responsible for the $180,000 raised for cancer research. All money raised on Saturday went directly to the Women and Infant’s, Oncology Research Center which is located in Providence R.I.

“For the 5th straight year, the Assumption Swimming Team participated in the Northeast Swim Across America, 1-mile open water swim at Roger Wheeler Beach in Rhode Island.” Head coach Stuart Cromarty said. “The team raised $7,200! All the money collected goes towards cancer research at Woman and Infants Hospital.  Over the past 5 years, the team has raised $35,000, an average of $7,000 per year! An amazing achievement! I am proud of these young ladies! They exhibit great character and embody what all Assumption student-athletes strive for each day!  Excellence in the classroom, in their sport and in community outreach.  I have no doubt that these lady hounds will continue their excellence in the community upon graduation and continue to shine throughout their careers”

Swim Across America is an organization that is dedicated to raising money and awareness for cancer research, prevention and treatment through swimming-related events. SAA was started by Jeff Keith and Matt Vossler in 1985. The organization has grown from a single event in Nantucket, Mass., to dozens of events across the U.S., from New York to California.

UTICA, NY – The Utica College men’s hockey team spent the weekend volunteering its time at the Rescue Mission of Utica.

“They helped out tremendously and we are so grateful,” said Stephanie J. Moore, volunteer / internship coordinator at the rescue mission. “Some of the work was not the most pleasant and they had very positive attitudes throughout everything. The students were such a pleasure to work with.”

The Pioneers completely filled up the rescue mission dumpster with years’ worth of junk from the basement and they also painted and provided landscaping. They weeded and cleaned up an area that many clients and residents walk past several times a day. In addition, the team also provided prep cooking and served dinner to the rescue mission clients.

Moore added, “We rely on help from volunteers; especially smart, strong, and friendly ones like the young men that were here Friday and Saturday!”

UC has led division III men’s hockey in home attendance for 11 consecutive seasons and over 2,500 season tickets have been sold to date for the upcoming 2017-18 campaign. The Pioneers home opener is on October 27th at 7 p.m. against Fredonia.

Utica advanced to its third conference tournament title game in the last four years last season and they have now appeared in five conference tournament championship games in the program’s 16-year history. The Pioneers, who enter their first season as a member of the United Collegiate Hockey Conference (UCHC), won three conference regular season titles in the last five seasons.

 

http://ucpioneers.com/news/2017/9/13/mens-ice-hockey-uc-mens-hockey-volunteers-at-the-utica-rescue-mission.aspx

In an effort to aid those struggling after the recent hurricanes, Rocky Point Middle School students and staff continued their tradition of giving by recently hosting a tug of war fundraiser.

The event, which also helped to culminate this year’s School Spirit Week, was held in the school’s gymnasium and raised $1,000 to aid the victims in only two days. Students and staff participated during the event, working in the teams and each vying for the chance to be crowned champions.

With encouragement from the attendees, the fun erupted into loud cheers as the eighth-grade team took the championship title.

 

Photo Captions:

1 – Rocky Point Middle School students cheered for participants in a rope tug of war with teachers as part of Spirit Week and to celebrate raising $1,000 for recent hurricane victims.

2 – The eighth-grade team winners of the Rocky Point Middle School tug of war.

3 – Rocky Point Middle School students had some powerful help with Middle School teacher Mr. Connelly.

 

Photos courtesy of the Rocky Point School District

Pleasantville varsity team and youth football program came together on September 9th for an important cause. They raised over $20,000 for children battling cancer.

It was the 2nd annual St. Baldrick’s Foundation fundraiser at @pleasantvillenyschools.

The event was in honor of Pete Becerra.

The fundraiser made $8,000 more than it did in 2016. Congrats to everyone in Pleasantville!