Jan. 10, 2005
The Siena athletic department announced an aggressive community outreach campaign today that actively encourages each of its over 300 student athletes to be involved in the community. The encompassing agenda includes the redesigned Adopt-A-School program, St. Casimir's Wednesday afternoons, charitable contributions and the MAAC Gives Back Program among others. Fidelis Care, a Catholic-sponsored health plan delivering quality health insurance to men, women and children in the Capital Region and beyond, has signed on as the title sponsor for Siena's athletic community relations initiatives.
"Fidelis Care is pleased to work with Siena on outreach to schools in the Capital Region," said Mark L. Lane, president and CEO of Fidelis Care. "The benefits of sports and physical activity can last a lifetime, and we are proud to be part of bringing these positive messages to local children and their families."
Highlighting the outreach campaign is the Adopt-A-School program. The Adopt-A-School program is a community initiative designed to motivate area elementary students through interaction with Siena's student-athletes. Members of the men's and women's basketball teams have "adopted" four area schools to interact with this season. This year's adopted schools include: Albany Public School #18, Shenendehowa Elementary School, St. Gregory's Elementary School and St. Pius Elementary School. In addition to providing guidance and leadership to area youths, Siena's student athletes learn first hand the value of volunteering in the community. The elementary students can find that learning is fun as their teachers incorporate Siena Basketball into class lesson plans (using statistics for math assignments, or writing the players for English). Siena's student athletes correspond throughout the year and ultimately visit the school. The school visits will take place during the month of January tipping-off with visits to School #18 and Shenendehowa on Tuesday, January 11. Players and coaches will meet with an assembly of approximately 300 students during their visit to each school. Tickets to upcoming games will be presented to school officials to use as rewards for students achievements.
"I thoroughly enjoy our community outreach programs, and believe Siena's student athletes serve as admirable role models," men's basketball head coach Rob Lanier said. "This is a chance to get out and make a difference in the lives of Capital Region youths, while providing guidance and direction as the children enter a crucial stage of their lives."
The athletic department will also work hand-and-hand with the Franciscan Center for Service and Advocacy (and the Siena Mentoring Program, which is part of the Franciscan Center) to provide support to St. Casimir's School in Albany's Arbor Hill. The Franciscan Center established a program with the Athletic Department three years ago to bring students from St. Casimir's to Siena on Wednesday's to use the athletic facilities, since St. Casimir's does not have a gymnasium. Life Skills Coordinator Pee Jay Brun coordinates the athletic department's involvement, recruiting athletes to volunteer as mentors with the students. The Franciscan Center provides the financial support for the bus to transport the kids to Siena. It marks the third year the College has sponsored the program.
"The student-athletes have always been very excited about getting involved with the community, but their demanding schedules often make this desire an impossibility," Brun said. "When the idea of bringing the students of St. Caismir to Siena was suggested to our student-athletes, the response was overwhelmingly positive, and the involvement has been excellent."
In addition to the numerous gifts the department makes throughout the year to various charities in the Capital Region, ranging from ticket and merchandise donations to monetary contributions, this year a silicone wristband, that reads "Siena Saints", will be sold at the Dog House (the athletic department store located in the Marcelle Athletic Complex) and at men's and women's basketball games. A portion of the proceeds from the sales of the wristbands will be donated to charities of head men's basketball coach Rob Lanier and head women's basketball coach Gina Castelli's choice.
Lanier has chosen to donate the funds to Equinox, a community service agency that provides assistance in a safe and positive environment for individuals and families to help them find the resources within themselves to make positive and lasting changes in their lives and within their communities. Castelli's charity is Capital Region Action Against Breast Cancer (CRAAB), a non-profit, community-based organization created in 1997 to make the eradication of breast cancer a priority through education and advocacy.
For the third straight year, Castelli and the women's basketball team will also host a CRAAB game in which proceeds from ticket sales will be donated directly to the organization. This year's CRAAB game will take place January 28 as the Saints host Loyola, and will be dedicated to the memory of Siena professor Patricia Brown who passed away this past year after serving as the keynote speaker at last year's game. Fans wearing pink (in support of the cause) will receive discounted admission to the game.
"I am proud of Siena's involvement in the community and support of CRAAB in particular," Castelli said. "At Siena, breast cancer hit home on a personal level with the passing of Professor Brown, and we remain committed to helping CRAAB in their fight against this terrible disease."
The Adopt-A-School program and the CRAAB game compliment the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference's MAAC Gives Back and MAAC Fights Back membership-wide initiatives. Other nationally sponsored programs Siena's student athletes will take part in this year include the annual National Girls and Women in Sports Day, National Student-Athlete Day and Take-A-Kid to the Game night. Information on these programs will follow in a later release and is available by visiting the NCAA website at www.ncaa.org.
Siena's student athlete's community service is recognized as part of the S.A.IN.T.S. (Supporting Athletes IN Their Success) Cup. The S.A.IN.T.S. Cup is a competition created to encourage participation in the Champs/Life Skills Program at Siena College. It gives student athletes the opportunity to gain experience and earn points for their respective teams in the five main NCAA Champs/Life Skills components (academic excellence, career development, personal development, community service, and athletic excellence). The focus of the program is to develop the individual as a role model, team member, and community leader. It is in its second year of existence.
"At Siena, we recognize the importance of community involvement," Director of Athletics John D'Argenio said. "Our athletes are known throughout the community by virtue of their involvement in intercollegiate competition. It is important that they recognize the responsibility that goes along with their athletic achievements and serve as positive role models for area youths."
