One of the highlights of the 2020 spring semester is the conference's announcement of the 2020 AMCC Community Service Awards. This tradition brings awareness to the wonderful community service projects to which our student-athletes, coaches, and administrators have voluntarily donated their time and energy. There are two categories in which winners are chosen -- One Time Events and Array of Events.
ONE-TIME EVENTS
GOLD LEVEL | Franciscan University Women's Volleyball | Dig Pink Day
The Franciscan University women's volleyball team hosted their Dig Pink Day in mid-September. The Barons have held this event annually since 2018. Since working with the Sideout Foundation, they have raised $11,383.04. 75% of those funds ($8537.28) have been donated to the Sideout Foundation for Cancer Research. 25% of those funds ($2845.76) have gone to the Taramana Cancer Center TEAR Fund to help support people in the local area who are going through cancer treatment and can't afford living expenses. Details of the event include t-shirts for all participants (ordered in advance and shipped a week in advance), a basket raffle, and post-match t-shirt/pizza raffle.
SILVER LEVEL | Pitt-Bradford | Special Olympics Bowling with a Buddy
One hundred thirty Pitt-Bradford student-athletes dedicated a total of 390 hours to the Special Olympics Bowling with a Buddy event in October. The Panther student-athletes helped keep score and also assisted the Special Olympic athletes bowl while engaging them in physical exercise and social interaction. Pitt-Bradford student-athletes have been bowling with the Special Olympic Buddies for the past 12 years. They provide overall support to the local Special Olympians who will participate in a state tournament.
BRONZE LEVEL | Mount Aloysius College Softball | Central PA Humane Society
In November the Mount Aloysius College softball team helped with a variety of projects at the Central PA Humane Society. The team cleaned and organized kennels, washed clothes, set out food and water for the animals, and mopped and cleaned the shelter. The Mounties were also able to spend time with the animals and comfort the old and sick ones. The Mountie softball team was able to help those who run the Humane Society to complete larger tasks quicker so they could take care of more animals.
ARRAY OF EVENTS
GOLD LEVEL | Alfred State College | SAAC Community Outreach
From September 2019 through April 2020, the Alfred State College Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) championed a different project each month throughout the school year. They organized and then conducted outreach programs that supported on-going campus projects, community projects and assisted with student education initiatives. The outreach projects were:
September - The softball SAAC reps held a 50/50 raffle at football games where the profits went to a local food pantry, cancer services and a local restaurant.
October - SUNY's Got Your Back - The volleyball SAAC reps got student athletes and coaches to join in with the Diversity & Title IX office helping pack care backpacks for people involved in abuse and/or sexual assault.
October - Pink Pride -At a home volleyball game, the SAAC Executive Board presented a check to Allegany County Cancer Services in support of Breast Cancer Awareness month.
November - SAAC sent a monetary donation to a local restaurant to help support their free Thanksgiving Day meal for the community.
December - The Pioneer western equestrian SAAC reps organized a food drive where student-athletes and the campus faculty & staff donated boxes and cans of food to the Alfred Station food pantry.
March - The wrestling SAAC reps got a van full of student-athletes together and visited Genesee Valley students and read books to support the Read Across America initiative.
April - In lieu of the scheduled on-campus "Yards for Yeardley" awareness event, the women's soccer SAAC reps connected student-athletes with One Love's Escalation Training online.
GOLD LEVEL | D'Youville College | Men's Basketball Community Outreach
The D'Youville College men's basketball team used creative ways to raise money, donate food, and help those in need by organizing and conducting three different commuity service projects throughout the academic year.
The Hoops for Haiti wheelchair basketball tournament took place at D'Youville's College Center Gym in September with the goal of raising funds for the Haiti Community Rehab Project. In total, over $1,000 was raised for the event through t-shirt sales and a basket raffle. Eight teams made up of 50 participants participated in the event. The Haiti Community Rehab Project provides orthotics and other care to victims of the Haiti earthquake.
In November, in association with the Muslim Student Association, the men's basketball team welcomed in youth members of the West Side Community Services to not only play at halftime of their game against Wells, but helped organize a food drive for local families. Food items were donated in exchange for raffle tickets to win prizes, highlighted by Buffalo Bills tickets. At halftime, the West Side Community Services Teen Program played a game with a great deal of excitement and an opportunity for the kids to play on a collegiate basketball court. The players formed five-on-five teams and played for seven minutes. The nonperishable food items went to the D'Youville Campus Cupboard and West Side Community Services. In addition to the nonperishable food items, money was donated to purchase food for families in need during Thanksgiving.
Prior to Thanksgiving, members of the men's basketball team also spent $250 from the squad's fundraising account on various food items; they made seven complete dinners to donate. All of the food donated went to the annual Thanksgiving Food Drive that is run by the D'Youville Campus Ministry. This is the eighth consecutive year the team has participated in this event.
SILVER LEVEL | Pitt-Bradford | Variety of Community Events
Panther student-athletes have a long-standing volunteer commitment to the Bradford community. They partner with local organizations in an array of events such as conducting kids soccer and basketball clinics, dog walking, assisting with nursing home activities, and raising awareness and funds for cancer research.and many other events. In total, 220 student-athlete volunteers contributed over 588 hours and raised $2,000 during the academic year.
BRONZE LEVEL | Hilbert College | Suicide Awareness
The Hilbert College athletic department participated in two events in the fall to bring awareness to mental health and suicide prevention. Hawk student-athletes participated in the town of Hamburg Out of the Darkness Community Walk. As participants in the walk, the Hilbert student-athletes supported research, education, advocacy, and outreach to save lives and bring hope to those affected by suicide.
Additionally, Hilbert College hosted What Made Maddy Run author Kate Fagan. Fagan addressed the entire faculty and staff with a presentation, then had a second presentation for all Hilbert students, including all Hawk athletic teams. What Made Maddy Run is Fagan's response to the lack of conversation about mental health in athletics and on college campuses generally. Specifically, What Made Maddy Run tells the story of a University of Pennsylvania varsity distance athlete who committed suicide in 2014.