Jan. 16, 2012
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On the day before the spring semester begins, Siena's Student Athlete Advisory Committee and men's basketball team spent much of their day giving back to the Capital Region Community through the athletic department's partnership with Ronald McDonald House Charities.
Siena's SAAC began its one-day winter retreat with an early morning visit to the Ronald McDonald House in Albany where the group prepared breakfast for the family members who have children hospitalized at Albany Medical Center.
As part of the partnership with Ronald McDonald House Charities, each of Siena's 18 Division I sports programs will visit the House over the course of the year to prepare a meal.
The men's basketball team then visited the Children's Hospital at Albany Medical Center in the afternoon. The Saints met with sick children, offering words of encouragement, posing for pictures and signing autographs in hope of lifting spirits. The visit capped a busy week of community service for the men's program. The team volunteered at the Northeast Regional Food Bank last Monday, and then made its annual Adopt-A-School visits across the Capital Region on Wednesday.
"It's important to us to give back to the community, because it gives so much to us," junior forward OD Anosike said. "It's part of what makes Siena basketball so special. If we can make the day better for these kids, then we're happy to do it."
Siena's SAAC spent the remainder of their day planning for the spring semester. They held an off-campus meaning where they discussed a range of topics concerning student athlete welfare, and then had team building exercises in the afternoon.
The men's basketball team continues its difficult stretch on the court Thursday at Loyola. The Greyhounds defeated Siena 66-59 in Albany earlier this season and currently sit in a second place tie in the MAAC with Manhattan. The Saints next home game is Jan. 23 against Mid-Major power and MAAC favorite Iona.
