TALLAHASSEE, Fl. (WTXL) – When former North Florida Christian and Florida State standout Ernie Sims was growing up in Tallahassee, he said there were no camps to go to and no one giving back to the community.

After a successful career at Florida State and some time in the NFL, Ernie has made sure he’s given back. For the 10th year, Sims is hosting his charity weekend, and it started Friday morning with 400 kids coming out to his Youth Football and Cheer Camp.

The weekend benefits Sims’ Big HITS Foundation, which aims to honor Tallahassee student athletes for their community involvement, giving them a college scholarship.

Friday night, several former Seminoles came out for a flag football game, and on Saturday, there will be a track meet and a gala.

It’s a good time for everyone involved, and to have the support is part of a bigger mission.

“We’re creating a culture with these kids, knowing what it’s like to get out in the open and give back to the community,” said Sims on Friday. “You never know, when they get our age, they may want to do the same thing. We’ll have camps left and right across the city during the summertime. The more we do that, the more we get the dignitaries to come out and support what we;re doing, we’re creating a positive environment for our society.”

Sims’ black team won the flag football game 27-26.

Source: http://www.wtxl.com/sports/tallahassee-football-standout-gives-back-to-community-that-raised-him/article_b51b86b0-690f-11e7-af7a-67866fc31817.html

It’s been a busy week for Chris Weber. On Tuesday, the senior linebacker was named one of the three players to represent Nebraska at Big Ten Media Days. A day earlier, he was nominated for the 2017 Allstate AFCA Good Works Team.

To top it all off, he’s also been busy preparing for the Nebraska Football Uplifting Athletes Road Race on Sunday. But he’s doing more than just competing in it.

Weber, who is also the president of the Nebraska chapter of Uplifting Athletes, is in his second year at the race’s helm. And he is hoping for an even bigger event and turnout than before. All proceeds from the race’s registration, which is in its fifth year, will benefit the Nebraska chapter of Uplifting Athletes and the efforts to find a cure for pediatric brain cancer. Each year the student-athletes set a new fundraising goal, then set out to exceed it.

“Last year we raised $35,000 so I think based on the numbers from the year before, we try to raise it a little bit,” Weber told Land of 10. “This year we’re trying to raise $40,000. Being able to raise any money for pediatric brain cancer is huge, so we’re glad to be able to do it.”

The event Sunday will bring together people from all over the state of Nebraska and beyond. Kicker Drew Brown’s brother Reed Brown, who is committed to Oregon to run track and cross country, even made the trip up from Texas for the event. He’s done so multiple times the last few years, getting to visit his brother while making a difference in the same trip.

“I like that it’s a race for a cause,” Reed Brown said. “It gets people out — you don’t have to be a fast runner or anything — but it gets people out and running for a good cause. That’s probably the biggest part of me coming out here. I just like to support.”

As for the day’s events, a “fun run” will begin at 8 a.m. with a 5K following approximately 30 minutes after. Both events are set to begin just outside of Memorial Stadium on Stadium Drive.

For the student-athletes that participate, the highlight of the event is the children in attendance who have battled or are currently battling pediatric brain cancer. Running alongside those kids and cheering them on is the ultimate reason people like Weber got involved in Uplifting Athletes.

“It’s humbling really to be able to interact with these kids and these families who are going through more than any of us could ever imagine,” Weber said. “I think sometimes athletes think these workouts will be so hard, but these kids are really going through it with [chemotherapy] and radiation and hospital visits. For us, to be able to be a little bit of a distraction to everything they have going on in their lives, we hope to be able to do that.”

Sam Foltz-Nebraska football
Late Nebraska punter Sam Foltz (No. 27) took part in the 2016 Nebraska Football Uplifting Athletes Road Race, less than a week before he was killed in an automobile accident. (Photo courtesy of the Nebraska athletic department)
Drew Brown agrees. Both he and Weber remember the photo of late punter Sam Foltz from the 2016 road race. Off to Foltz’s left, a little boy looks up at the punter in awe. The photo not only represents the type of person Foltz was, but also what this race means for the Uplifting Athlete community.

Plus, the race also provides the opportunity to get out and meet people in a more relaxed setting.

“I like meeting all of the people there,” Drew said. “It’s not like Fan Day where you’re set in one spot and everyone just rotates in a circle. Instead, I’m just mixing and mingling with people so I like that.”

While online registration has officially closed, those interested in participating can still sign up at the Lincoln Track Club or make a donation online. Spectators are also encouraged.

“As many people that are there, the better,” Weber said.

With more than 80 percent of the goal met, Weber hopes to break the $40,000 goal by Sunday morning. The Huskers are close, so he’s encouraged.

And after a busy week, Weber isn’t slowing down. He has plenty on his plate — from Big Ten Media Days to summer workouts — but he’s not worried about time. For him and his teammates, the road race is something that means a great deal.

He also has a simple answer for how he makes it all work.

“If it’s important to you, you’ll find time,” Weber said. “That’s how I view it. If you prioritize it and it truly is important to you, then you’re going to find time to do it and give back. I think we’ve seen — especially here in Nebraska — across all sports that if it’s important to them, they’ll find time.”

Source: https://www.landof10.com/nebraska/nebraska-lb-chris-weber-finds-time-to-give-back-support-community-through-road-race

Several Northport High School students recently received generous scholarships and donations from the Northport Running Club, who strive to give back to the community.

Bill Fleming, the organization’s race director for the Doug Wood 5K, presented seniors Evan Atherton and Abby Caulfield with the Doug Wood Scholarship. The club awards two of these academic scholarships annually to members of the Northport High School cross-country/track and field programs.
In addition, the Northport High School 4 X 800-meter relay team, consisting of students Elijah Claiborne, Isiah Claiborne, Tyler Dolhausen and Dan O’Connor, were gifted with a $1,000 check to cover their travel expenses to attend the New Balance National Championships in Greensboro, North Carolina. Here, the team set a Suffolk County record in the race with a time of 7:37.

“The Northport Running Club has over 500 members and we realize the importance of giving back to help our community,” said Northport Running Club President John DeSpagna. “We take great pride in being able to give back to high school students who are the future of our community and giving them the opportunity to succeed.”

Photo Caption: Northport Running Club Youth Director Vicki Fox, President John DeSpagna and Bill Fleming presented a check for $1,000 to the Northport High School 4 X 800-meter relay team.

Photo courtesy of the Northport-East Northport School District

George Fox University has grand visions for the third annual Bruin Sports Day, set for Aug. 23, as it hopes to continue to grow the event and strengthen its ties with the community.

Children in grades second through eighth will have the opportunity to learn from George Fox coaches and athletes during a clinic from 12:30 to 3 p.m. in one of 11 sports — football, men’s and women’s soccer, volleyball, men’s and women’s tennis, men’s and women’s golf, softball, baseball and cheer, which is new for this year.

The event drew 200 participants its first year and 250 last year.

“Ideally, we would love it if every kid in Newberg and the surrounding communities would participate,” associate athletic director Elise Trask said. “We are somewhat limited in space due to size of facilities, but all that means is that if soccer is full, kids should look to sign up for a different sport. We have over 200 student athletes and coaches who participate in the day, so we can take on a lot of participants.”

Community service is one of the school’s missions and Trask said that everything the athletic department does is tied to those missions.

“Community service is a vital part of the student athlete experience,” Trask said. “We think it’s important that they give back to the community that supports them. We also think it’s invaluable for our athletes to step outside their comfort zones and serve because it’s a great reminder of how blessed they all are to be receiving a first class education while playing the sport they love.”

Bruin Sports Day is like the athletic department’s version of Serve Day, when the whole university shuts down for a day so that students and staff can volunteer across the community.

“The neat thing about athletics, is that we have grown so much over the last five to 10 years that we make up over 20 percent of the undergraduate population,” Trask said. “That means that we have the ability to make a huge impact not just on campus but in Newberg as a whole.

She added that players and coaches alike have really bought into the event, which is co-coordinated by the Chehalem Park and Recreation District.

“They handle the registration and help advertise (and) market the event,” Trask said. “They have really great communication channels to the market we are trying to reach. I love that CPRD and Bruin athletics share a similar vision in getting youth involved in sports and that we have the ability to work together to benefit all of Newberg and the surrounding communities.”

Registration is open through Aug. 22, but some sports fill up fast. To register, visit www.athletics.georgefox.edu and click on “sports camps” under the “about” tab or drop by the CPRD aquatic center in person.

Source: http://pamplinmedia.com/nbg/145-sports/365075-246296-gfu-hoping-for-bigger-better-bruins-sports-day

Student-athletes from Southeastern Conference schools packed 3,500 meals for children and families Saturday as the unofficial start of SEC Media Days in Birmingham.

When Greg Sankey became commissioner in 2015, he envisioned a conference that excelled not only in sports, but also in the character and leadership of the young men and women who play the games. That’s why 68 student-athletes were so busy at the Community Food Bank of Central Alabama.

“One of Commissioner Sankey’s initiatives was to provide leadership development for our student-athletes,” said SEC Associate Commissioner Tiffany Daniels.

“We have developed a student-athlete leadership council. They have come here for leadership development through community service.”

Everybody wins when SEC athletes join the fight against hunger from Alabama NewsCenter on Vimeo.

Sankey formed the leadership council, which includes athletes in football and men’s and women’s basketball. The two groups were meeting for the first time Saturday.

“It’s important to the commissioner that these two groups have held a joint meeting,” said Ben Beaty, a communications official with the SEC.

The councils were formed to provide student-athletes opportunities to gather with campus leaders and SEC staff.

The SEC also has a Student Athlete Advisory Committee, or SAAC. Will Herrscher is a junior track star at the University of Alabama and serves on SAAC.

“This is helping feed a lot of people,” he said while taking a break from packing boxes of food.

Herrscher is a Crimson Tide pole vaulter and holds the UA indoor record of 17 feet, 10 inches.

Foster Ballard of Wetumpka swims the butterfly for the Auburn Tigers. His best time is 1 minute, 42 seconds for 200 yards.

He is working toward a degree in construction management and wants to supervise the building of subdivisions.

“If I were not an athlete at Auburn I wouldn’t be here,” Ballard said. “This is a good opportunity to do something good in our community.”

To read more please visit: http://www.alabamanewscenter.com/2017/07/10/sec-athletes-pitch-in-at-community-food-bank-of-central-alabama/