Special Olympics Basketball Clinic/Game (April 21, 2012)
On Saturday, April 21, the State University of New York at New Paltz Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) teamed up with the Special Olympics for a basketball clinic and a basketball game. Members of the SAAC and other student-athletes from the men’s and women’s basketball teams had a chance to work with the Orange County Flames and the Running Foxes from the Special Olympics organization.
To start the day, the New Paltz student-athletes conducted a basketball clinic in the Hawk Center with the Special Olympians teaching basketball skills. It was followed up by an intrasquad game between the members of the OC Flames. Then the New Paltz Hawk student-athletes were lucky enough to take on the Running Foxes team. After the games, everyone got a chance to meet and get to know each over lunch in the Athletic & Wellness Center.
Adopt-A-Family (December 2011)
Over the holiday season, eight State University of New York at New Paltz varsity athletics programs donated goods as a part of the Adopt-A-Family program through Family Services in Poughkeepsie, N.Y. This annual initiative was organized and sponsored by the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC).
Each of the eight teams that participated (women's basketball, women's volleyball, men's volleyball, women' soccer, men's and women's cross country, women's tennis and softball) were assigned a family, and they were given a list of goods requested by the family for holiday gifts. The teams purchased the gifts/items and then dropped them off at Family Services, which then distributed the gifts to the assigned families.
2011 SAAC Leaf Rake (Nov. 13, 2011)
On Sunday, Nov. 13, 2011, the State University of New York at New Paltz's varsity athletics teams participated in the annual Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) Leaf Rake, raking leaves at 14 different properties in New Paltz, N.Y.
The aim of the project is to aid senior citizens in clearing their properties of leaves, and the initiative began approximately six years ago. Members of SAAC were instrumental in the planning of the event.
Fourteen New Paltz varsity athletics programs split up into three different groups, and the event spanned from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. In total, 14 properties were covered.
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Up 'Til Dawn (Oct. 5, 2011)
On Wednesday, Oct. 5, 2011, New Paltz had its annual Up Til Dawn letter-sending event, and the Department of Athletics, Wellness & Recreation had a large turnout in attendance. The event was organized to help raise money for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, which is the largest childhood cancer research center in the world and runs completely on donations. Many businesses in town donated food and raffle prizes. This year, more than 500 students participated in the event. Many of the athletic teams stopped by to show their support and wrote letters, asking family members and friends for donations. There was entertainment as well from our talented students in A cappella groups as well as our performing ensembles.
"Flood Aid" (Oct. 2, 2011)
On Sunday, Oct. 2, 2011, the New Paltz men's basketball team assisted in organizational efforts and clean-up for the village of New Paltz's “Flood Aid” concert event. “Flood Aid” was formed to benefit local farmers, families and first responders directly impacted by the effects of Hurricane Irene.
Sunday's event marked the first in a series being put on by the group to promote awareness of the damaging effects that the floods have had in the New Paltz area. Six well-known bands performed while local chefs prepared food for the large crowds. The event raised $11,000, which will go toward the farms that were destroyed because of the storm's flooding.
Senior captain Jermain Wallace coordinated the team's effort at the event. Players spent several hours moving tables and chairs, helping the bands set up their sound equipment and cleaning up trash from the event.
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