During this holiday season, America East member institutions take a lead in giving back to their communities. Each campus' Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SACC) individually chose to participate or hold an event to further connect with the communities around them. Joy filled the air as the America East campus SAAC’s fundraised, donated and assisted those in need of holiday cheer.
Every holiday season University at Albany’s athletic teams played a part in an Adopt-A-Family Program. Each team was required to raise or donate money and then purchase or wrap gifts for its family. During this time the Albany SAAC joined together for a holiday ‘wrapping party’ where members wrapped the gifts for the local families. Read story here
The Binghamton University SAAC group had the chance to hold a toy and book drive recently. The completed drive collected 220 books and 180 toys for needy families and children.
The Children’s Hospital of Boston was grateful on account of Boston University’s SAAC as it held a Teddy Bear toss at the men’s hockey game on December 12th. The group sold bears for $7 and were close to selling out before the start of the game. Reaching well over 300 bears the SAAC also collected over $2000 that was given to its Special Olympics Fund. Read story here.
Members of University of Hartford’s SAAC took the initiative to hold a coat drive which aided the Button Up Connecticut coat drive. The Hawks exceeded their expectations in collecting over 80 coats during this holiday season. The SAAC posted up at the women’s basketball game versus Marist, which jumpstarted their efforts. Read story here.
UMBC student-athletes donated towards a great cause this holiday season. The Soles4Souls Foundation collects new or lightly worn shoes from footwear warehouses and closets of people across the country. These shoes are then shipped to over 125 countries in need. UMBC’s SAAC spearheaded this cause and collected over 150 pairs of shoes. Read story here.
The University of Maine SAAC collected toys and donations at home events during the first two weeks of December. This marks the fifth year the committee has partnered with the local branch of the Toys for Tots program to help it in the organization's mission to provide area children the joy of the holiday season. The group raised a total of $800 and collected 180 toys for the organization. Read story here.
The SAAC from University of New Hampshire sponsored a 3 v. 3 basketball tournament in hoping to collect food and raise money for a local food pantry, Cornucopia Food Pantry. Their plan deemed a huge success when more than 75 students across campus as well as various student-athletes participated in this tournament, filling four large crates of food and $150 to donate to the chosen pantry.
Alike to the Wildcats, the Stony Brook University’s Seawolves also gave back to their community by holding its annual food drive, this year, to support The Harry Chapin Food Bank. During the drive, the SAAC along with its teams collected over 1,678 cans of food along with $386 that was donated to Long Island Cares, Inc.
CFES, College for Every Student, is a non-profit organization committed to helping underserved youth prepare for, gain access to and succeed in college. University of Vermont’s SAAC has gotten into the giving mood by partnering with Burlington's Integrated Arts Academy (formerly H.O. Wheeler School) to provide mentoring opportunities and exposure to higher education.