Dec. 29, 2005

During the 2005 holiday season the Student-Athlete Advisory Committees (SAAC) on Patriot League campuses gave back to their local communities and embraced the giving spirit. SAAC groups welcomed children to their campuses, some donated food, while another ran an Adopt-A-Family program. Below are examples of what some of the Patriot League SAACs did to spread cheer this winter.

At American University in Washington, D.C., the Student-Athlete Advisory Board (SAAB) hosted a group of 25 boys between the ages of eight and 17, providing food, fun and drinks with the athletic department during halftime of a men's basketball game. The kids came as part of the "Working Men Who Care" organization whose primary purpose is to provide a support base to underserved African-American and other minority youth in the area by developing and implementing programs and activities that empower youth to become productive, independent leaders.

The SAAB was able to purchase a gift for each young man with funds donated by student-athletes. Each youth also received a basketball donated by Modell's Sporting Goods.

American's student-athletes spoke with local youth about being Division I athletes and life off the playing field

The SAAC at Bucknell University donated turkeys to the community center in Lewisburg, Pa. The turkeys, along with donations from other school organizations, comprised Thanksgiving baskets for underprivileged families in the area.

For the seventh straight year the student-athletes at Lehigh University in Bethlehem, Pa., organized an Adopt-A-Family program through the Community Outreach by Athletes who Care about Helping program. Each team raised money over the course of the semester to purchase gifts to give to their adopted family. The teams met with their families prior to the semester break to present the gifts. Santa Claus was also in attendance to help deliver some holiday cheer, while food and drinks were served to all.

In Worcester, Mass., on the campus of the College of the Holy Cross, the SAAC spent the winter planning future community service projects and decided on Alex's Lemonade Stand, which is a charity that began in 2000 by a 4-year-old cancer patient named Alexandra "Alex" Scott. Scott came up with the idea to set up a lemonade stand to raise money that would be donated to help find a cure for pediatric cancer. Groups that wish to get involved can hold their own stand in the name of Alex, organize walks or runs, or donate funds directly to the cause.

For more information on the Patriot League SAAC click here. Check both the Patriot League website and each of our member institution's websites to see what the conference and campus SAACs are up to.