The annual Northeast Conference Student-Athlete Advisory Committee meeting returned to Hershey Park, PA, but the two-day event was more about service than sweets.
When not discussing proposed NCAA legislation or sharing best practices, the group of 20 student-athletes and five administrators spent time at the
Children’s Cancer Recovery Foundation, which is headquartered in Harrisburg.
During their visit, NEC SAAC leaders hand-delivered a
$7,528.35 check to the
Children’s Cancer Recovery Foundation and also volunteered time to preparing care packages that will go to children around the nation.
“We had a great time gathering supplies and stuffing boxes with items that will be able to raise the spirits of so many children,” said NEC SAAC President
Logan Meinert, who is a senior setter for Saint Francis University women’s volleyball.
The monetary donation to the Foundation, which assists children under age 18 and their families who are facing the hardships of a cancer diagnosis, was comprised of funds raised from the NEC SAAC’s annual Penny Wars.
“It was incredible to see how our NEC Penny War fundraiser directly benefits the children's cancer recovery foundation,” added Meinert.
The NEC SAAC has already laid the groundwork for this winter’s edition of Penny Wars and will look to top the record amount it raised last year.
A portion of the weekend was designated for group discussion amongst the student-athlete leaders. Ideas for improving on-campus operations made their way around the room and concepts for new fundraisers were also discussed.
After explaining a number of proposed NCAA legislative items and the potential impact they could have on NEC student-athletes, NEC staffers Lisa Archbald and Teneshia Ruff provided the group with an opportunity to comment.
SAAC members eventually had the opportunity to enjoy some milk chocolate while staying in the Hershey Lodge. They also took a trip to see a performance of the
Blue Man Group.
It was weekend of service, sweets and discussion, and according to Meinert, it was a great success.
About the Northeast Conference
Now in its 33rd year, the Northeast Conference is an NCAA Division I collegiate athletic association consisting of 10 institutions of higher learning located throughout six states. Media coverage of the NEC extends to four of the largest markets in the United States - New York (#1), Pittsburgh (#23), Baltimore (#27), and Hartford/New Haven (#30). Founded in 1981 as the basketball-only ECAC Metro Conference, the NEC has grown to sponsor 22 championship sports for men and women and now enjoys automatic or play-in access to 14 different NCAA Championships. NEC member institutions include Bryant, Central Connecticut, Fairleigh Dickinson, LIU Brooklyn, Mount St. Mary’s, Robert Morris, Sacred Heart, St. Francis Brooklyn, Saint Francis U and Wagner. For more information on the NEC, visit the league’s official website (www.northeastconference.org) and digital network (www.necfrontrow.com), or follow the league on Twitter, Facebook and YouTube @NECsports.
About the Children’s Cancer Recovery Foundation
Children’s Cancer Recovery Foundation assists children under age 18 and their families who are facing the hardships of a cancer diagnosis. The Foundation focuses on improving the mental, social and emotional well-being of these families while helping to minimize the devastation that cancer can cause. We measure the true impact of our organization in smiles. A national footprint allows the Foundation to make a difference in communities, large and small, providing a helping hand wherever needed. The Foundation delivers gifts to thousands of children each year through the national Bear-Able Gift Program. Items such as board games, toys, crayons, coloring books, markers, video games, puzzles, teddy bears, craft kits… all sorts of things that make children smile and laugh… are distributed to hospitals across the country. The Bear-Able Gift Program is the largest supplier of gifts to children with cancer in North America.