Hempstead, NY – Throughout the 2016-17 academic year, Hofstra University student-athletes dedicated themselves to serving others. Between Hofstra’s 17 athletic teams and more than 300 student-athletes, the Pride took part in 55 community service projects, and totaled nearly 3,000 hours of service.

This past spring, Hofstra’s student-athletes took part in the following projects:

Reading With Pride
Several student-athletes took a trip to a local elementary school on March 2 in honor of Dr. Seuss’ birthday. Students went into different classrooms and read their favorite Dr. Seuss books to the children, while explaining the importance of reading and staying focused on their academics. Student-athletes also shared stories about their college experiences.

Big Brothers Big Sister of Long Island
Throughout the spring semester, several Pride athletics teams (men’s basketball, men’s soccer, and women’s soccer) hosted clinics for Big Brothers Big Sisters of Long Island. Alan Hetherington, a member of the men’s cross country team, concluded his third year as a volunteer for the program, serving as a “big” to a “little” each Wednesday throughout the year.

Campus Connection Group
This semester the men’s lacrosse team and coaching staff hosted a clinic for young adults with autism and other intellectual/development disabilities in the Hofstra Bubble. This group also worked with the women’s basketball team for a second consecutive semester. During their visits to campus they were able to practice with both teams.

California Avenue Elementary School
The California Avenue Elementary School runs a behavioral modification program called the Green Light Program. In this program they look to expose their students to different sports. The women’s basketball team hosted a clinic at California Avenue Elementary along with holding a session here on campus. Other teams, including men’s basketball, field hockey and men’s lacrosse, had a chance to work with the group and teach them new skills and techniques about their individual sports as well.

Pride Paint and Plant
Members of the field hockey and wrestling teams volunteered their time with the Office of Community Student Services and Community Outreach. Together they went into the community and planted marigolds and painted the fences of our community neighbors.

Ruff House Rescue
The volleyball team volunteered some of their time this past semester at the Ruff House Rescue in Freeport. They assisted in walking dogs and cleaning the shelter to provide a safe environment for all the animals.

Yards for Yeardley
This year the Pride held its annual Yards for Yeardley event and partnered up with Hofstra University Student Advocacy & Prevention Awareness and Title IX. With the help of the Hofstra community, we exceeded our goal of 1 million yards walked or run to raise awareness about relationship violence and the One Love Foundation.

Featured community service projects during the fall 2016 semester included working with the Glen Cove Day Care Center, the CAA Blood Drive Challenge in which Hofstra finished second, the Winthrop Hospital Cancer Center for Kids Fun Run, Holiday donations to the Winthrop Hospital Pediatric Unit, Holiday Magic, The Making Strides Against Breast Cancer Walk at Jones Beach and the Long Island Children’s Museum Ghostly Gala.

Throughout the 2016-17 year, Hofstra Athletics partnered with nearly 50 groups and organizations as part of its community service outreach.

Story courtesy of: http://gohofstra.com/

CORAL GABLES, Fla. – The University of Miami Department of Athletics continued to earn high praise with its student-athlete community outreach program, as it earned a No. 3 ranking in the NCAA Team Works Helper Helper Community Service Competition.

The Hurricanes’ No. 3 ranking in the NCAA Community Service Top 25 is the highest among Atlantic Coast Conference institutions.

“University of Miami student-athletes are committed to serving our community – and the world,” Miami Director of Athletics Blake James said. “To be ranked as the No. 1 institution in the ACC for community service says a lot about our student-athletes, our coaches, our support staff and the values of our University, and I could not be more proud.”

NCAA Team Works, which coordinates community service efforts at NCAA championships, and Helper Helper, a volunteer management, and tracking platform, launched the community service competition to recognize student-athletes who give back to their communities. The competition ran from January through March.

The winning schools were determined based on the amount of service hours completed and the participation of student-athletes.

Over the course of the past three months, Miami student-athletes participated in 75 events with 16 nonprofit organizations and tallied 1,531 service hours since the competition began.

“This is such a tremendous accomplishment for our student-athletes,” assistant athletics director for student-athlete development Shirelle Jackson said. “Our student-athletes truly care about helping others and making their community a great place to live.”

In the team-specific competition, the Hurricanes tallied the most community service hours among all Division I men’s tennis programs.

In addition, the Miami athletics community outreach programs also ranked in the NCAA’s top five in each of the following sports: men’s basketball (No. 3), football (No. 2), women’s rowing (No. 4), women’s soccer (No. 3), men’s track and field (No. 5) and women’s track and field (No. 5).

Rounding out the top five schools in Division I competition were George Washington (No. 1), Fairfield (No. 2), North Carolina Central (No. 4) and Louisville (No. 5).

For more information on the NCAA Team Works Helper Helper Community Service Competition, visit ncaa.com/teamworks.

Story courtesy of: http://www.hurricanesports.com/

Dutch Broadway School students showed off their patriotism by wearing red, white and blue during the fifth annual walk-a-thon benefiting Building Homes for Heroes on June 2.

At an outdoor assembly, flanked by members of the American Legion Elmont Post 1033, The Legion Riders, American Legion Mineola Post 349 and the VFW Bellmore Post 2770, Principal Amy Buchanan encouraged students to always say thank you when they encounter a veteran.
“We thank you for your service to the land we love,” Buchanan said.

Physical education teacher Deb Bennett, who coordinated the event with physical education teacher Glenn Saenz, explained the mission of the Building Homes for Heroes organization, which builds and renovates homes for soldiers returning for Iraq and Afghanistan. Students also heard from Jim Vaughan, who spoke on behalf of his son, United States Marine Corp Corporal Kevin Vaughan. Kevin was wounded in Afghanistan in September 2011 and Building Homes for Heroes gifted him a new home in North Merrick in November of 2015.

Also taking part in the event was Korean War veteran Bill “The Can Man” Urianek, who assisted students with redeeming recycled bottles and cans at the school, which resulted in $2,250 for Building Homes for Heroes. Other donations included $250 for the American Legion Post 1033 Riders, $100 from the groups’ Ladies Auxiliary and $100 from its post’s members; $2,000 from the VFW Bellmore Post 2770’s Night at the Races and $1,200 from its’ post’s members. Students and faculty members also raised a significant amount of money, bringing the total donated to Building Homes for Heroes to more than $8,200.

Members of the fifth- and sixth-grade band and a special ensemble of talented student-singers performed a variety of patriotic tunes throughout the presentation to honor members of the armed forces, both past and present.

Photo Caption: Members of Elmont Post 1033 are pictured with Dutch Broadway Principal Amy Buchanan (third, right), Assistant Principals Brendan Alfieri (left) and Valerie Donoghue (second, right), physical education teachers Deb Bennett (third, left) and Glenn Saenz (fifth, left), fifth-grade teacher Melissa O’Brien (second, right) and Superintendent of Schools Al Harper (right).

Photos courtesy of the Elmont School District

On May 25, helping hands and caring hearts of approximately 150 Herricks Middle School students came together to assemble packages for the Birthday Wishes volunteer organization. They gathered in the building’s cafeteria and worked together to create gifts that will turn into lasting memories.
Birthday Wishes provides birthday parties for homeless children in more than 200 homeless shelters and transitional living facilities on Long Island as well as areas outside of New York State. The group believes that all children, regardless of their living situation, should celebrate their birthdays joyfully, surrounded by family, friends and others who care.

Herricks Middle School students and staff members were excited for the opportunity to be part of this meaningful effort. They filled boxes with all the ingredients for a happy birthday: Plates, napkins, goodie bags, candles, streamers, balloons, gifts and most importantly, kindness. All items were donated by students, school families and staff members. Handmade cards were also included in each “Birthday in a Box.”

Photos courtesy of Herricks Public Schools

Connolly School students recently dressed as their favorite animals and participated in a variety of fun games to raise money for the National Wildlife Federation, which is dedicated to protecting wildlife and habitats.

The students, under the direction of Student Council adviser Susan Stanco, played Giraffe Basketball, Puppy Paddle and a Kangaroo Sack Race, dressed as cats, bunnies, puppies and a whole lot more. They also had an opportunity to pet and hold some kittens thanks to Diane Connolly of Cove Animal Rescue. In all, the students raised nearly $200 for the organization.

Photo Caption:
Trinity Goins tried to keep her concentration during Puppy Paddle.

Photos courtesy of the Glen Cove City School District