Elmira College SAAB Raises Money to Assist Family in Need for the Holidays
ELMIRA, N.Y. -- In the holiday spirit of giving, the Elmira College Department of Athletics and the EC Student-Athlete Advisory Board (SAAB) once again came together to help make Christmas a very merry one for a local family in need through the Adopt-A-Family program, organized by Catholic Charities of Chemung & Schuyler Counties.
"This program is one of my favorites to participate in," SAAB President Daniel Gridley '18 said. "It is very rewarding for all of our student-athletes who are involved to know that a little care on their part goes a long way for a family in need."
Participating in the Adopt-A-Family program has become an annual holiday tradition for the Soaring Eagles. This year, EC helped provide Christmas cheer for a single mother and her three children, whose ages range from seven months to 16 years old.
All of EC's athletic teams, including the sports medicine student trainers, helped collect donations, while several administrators and coaches contributed to the worthy cause. According to Gridley, SAAB collected more than twice its initial fundraising goal.
"We were able to buy our family everything that was on their wish list and more," he said.
SAAB representatives
Nick Cottone '19 (baseball), Matt Buffum '18 (men's volleyball),
Giovanna DeLoca '17 (women's golf),
Chris Konow '18 (men's tennis),
Emma Miklinski '17 (field hockey) and
Julia Ashey '17 (sports medicine) volunteered to help shop for the items on the family's wish list.
After purchasing the gifts, Gridley, Miklinski, Ashey and Senior Associate Director of Athletics
Jen Bozek met for a "wrapping party" to wrap the presents with festive paper and bows, before the decorated packages were delivered to Catholic Charities for distribution.
"We're looking forward to participating again next year," added Gridley.
About Catholic Charities
Catholic Charities USA (CCUSA) is the national office for Catholic Charities agencies nationwide. Catholic Charities USA's members provide help and create hope for millions of people a year, regardless of their religious, social, or economic background. CCUSA provides leadership and support for the work of local agencies in their efforts to reduce poverty, support families, and empower communities. CCUSA was founded in 1910 on the campus of Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C., as the National Conference of Catholic Charities. For more than 100 years, CCUSA has guided and supported the vast network of Catholic Charities agencies nationwide in a common mission to serve, advocate, and convene.