CHARLESTON, S.C. – Giving back to the community that supports them, College of Charleston student-athletes volunteered over 2,015 hours, raised almost $11,000 and collected 2,350 pounds of food for local charities and non-profit organizations throughout the 2013-14 academic year.
Highlighting the Cougars philanthropic endeavors this season was the incredible collective effort put forth during the CAA Food Drive, in which CofC student-athletes collected over 2,350 pounds of food and raised over $1,500 for the Lowcountry Food Bank in February. Combined, the donations were enough to provide over 11,000 meals for families, children and seniors within the local community. Led by the Cougars, the event was also a resounding conference-wide success, with the CAA’s nine full-time member institutions providing more than 9,710 pounds of food, as well as $4,268 in combined financial contributions.
“We are so proud to partner with students from the College of Charleston,” said Lowcountry Food Bank President and CEO, Pat Walker. “They are truly leaders in our fight to end hunger in our community.”
Financially, the Cougars proved their fundraising merit over the past year as well, helping to raise $10,989 for local philanthropic organizations. The largest donations were those given to the Vs. Cancer Foundation and the Ronald McDonald House, who accounted for $5,153 in charitable contributions.
The remaining proceeds went to the Press On Fund (a foundation committed to curing childhood cancer), the American Cancer Society, My Sister’s House (a nonprofit organization that provides services and resources for domestic violence victims) and Positive Change.
Perhaps even more valuable to the local community, however, is the amount of time College of Charleston student-athletes were able to allocate to charitable causes over the past year. Dedicating 2,015 hours to local organizations, all 22 athletics programs combined to support 52 different organizations throughout the year.
Some other notable groups that CofC student-athletes spent time with are the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure Foundation, the Carolina Youth Development Center, CATR Therapeutic Riding Center, Out of Darkness Suicide Prevention Program and numerous trips to local elementary schools in which student-athletes spent time reading to children.
“Giving back to the local community is – and always has been – a top priority for us here at the College of Charleston,” said CofC Director of Athletics Joe Hull. “I’m proud of our student-athletes for their commitment to philanthropy and know, in order to help those in need; we will continue to engage local charities and non-profits in years to come.”
For more information on College of Charleston athletics, follow us on twitter @CofCSports and stay tuned to CofCSports.com for more information on community outreach initiatives.
