By Katie David, Staff Writer
Every year the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) participates in a Christmas charity. This year, SAAC chose a project called Operation Christmas Child.
Each athletic team was to donate two shoe boxes full of toys, toiletry products, school supplies, etc, one for a girl and one for a boy. Many teams went above and beyond the requirements and were able to fill more than two shoe boxes. The boxes are going to be shipped to children in less fortunate, war torn countries. This box will more than likely be the only thing this child receives for Christmas.
“I am happy that we were able to get involved in this project this year because it is a great feeling knowing that we were able to give the gift of Christmas to a child who is much less fortunate than most of us college athletes,” said SAAC President and member of the women’s swim team Liz Casey .
“For Saint Leo student-athletes to go out of their way to help others during such an economically hard time is amazing. It properly portrays the core values that we are taught every day, and it warms our hearts to help others, especially children, that we don’t know,” said sophomore member of the softball team Katie Gwinn.
Operation Christmas Child is run by Samaritan’s Purse. Starting in 1993, Operation Christmas Child has shipped over 77 million shoe boxes full of toys to children all over the world.
For more information about the project please visit: www.samaritanspurse.org/occ
Functions of the Saint Leo University Student-Athlete Advisory Committee
- Promote communication between athletics administration and studentathletes
- Disseminate information
- Provide feedback and insight into athletics department issues
- Generate a student-athlete voice within the campus athletics department formulation of policies
- Build a sense of community within the athletics program involving all athletics teams
- Solicit student-athlete responses to proposed conferences and NCAA legislation
- Organize community service efforts
- Create a vehicle for student-athlete representation on campus-wide committees (e.g., student government)
- Promote a positive student-athlete image on campus
