Amid all the outside competition during the 2010-11 school year, two Fredonia State teams competed against each other. There would be no losers.
The men's soccer and men's and women's track & field teams joined forces with the Community Blood Bank to see which team could attract the most donors. The soccer team won the competition - and a pizza party - by attracting one more donor than track & field.
Overall, blood donors drew 111 pints of blood over two days, enough to supply Brooks Hospital for one month.
"Both teams are winners," said Kathy Hastings, the mobile drive coordinator for Community Blood Bank. "(They met) the needs of your local hospital and patients."
The blood drive was one of many community service projects conducted by Fredonia State teams in the past year. Among them:
Last Nov. 9, the men's and women's swimming and diving teams took part in the Hour of Power Relay for Pediatric Sarcoma Research. The Blue Devils and approximately 6,000 athletes from the United States and abroad swam relays for a full hour. Proceeds from the worldwide event benefit research by the University of Chicago into the causes and treatment of sarcoma in young people.
The women's tennis team made its annual mid-December visit to the Women's Christian Association senior citizens home in Fredonia. The players assisted the residents with Christmas and holiday card writing and decorating.
The women's basketball team participated in National Girls and Women In Sport Day by hosting a pizza party for members of the Northern Chautauqua Catholic School girls' junior varsity basketball team. The team also participated in the campus-wide Out Of The Darkness Walk and made its annual donation to the American Cancer Society.
The men's basketball team sponsored two blood drives - 115 pints were donated last September, another 109 in April. The team also worked with Centaur Stride, Inc., a therapeutic horseback riding program in Westfield, to sponsor "Race for Change." Two area elementary schools competed with each other by collecting spare change, later donated to Centaur Stride. The Blue Devils held assemblies at both schools.
The softball team collected used women's business attire and donated it to Everywoman Opportunity Center in Dunkirk. Everywoman then donated the clothing to women to wear at job interviews.
"This was held for us in March for Women's History Month," EOC career counselor Melissa Fote said. "We are very grateful to the SUNY women's softball team."
In addition to the blood drive competition with men's soccer, the men's and women's track and field teams worked two eight-hour days with Habitat for Humanity during their spring trip to Myrtle Beach, S.C. - following their early morning workout. Team members also assisted in the campus-wide Flight of Hope to assist Japanese earthquake and tsunami victims. Team members assisted in the folding of 1,000 origami cranes, which were later packaged and sent to three partner universities in Japan as a symbol of healing and hope during challenging times.
The men's hockey team was involved in several projects, among them a canned food drive during their annual Skate With The Blue Devils event. The players collected approximately 120 cans of food and donated the food to The Friendly Kitchen in Dunkirk.
Last Sept. 11, the hockey team went to the homes of several area senior citizens to do odd jobs. The players washed windows, sealed driveways, trimmed bushes, etc.
The most visible of the hockey team's projects was the annual Pink The Rink promotion, an event which included several other campus student groups. Through the sale of game-worn pink jerseys, the Blue Devils raised approximately $8,000 for the American Cancer Society during their home game Feb. 12.
The team received an award for outstanding volunteer service at the Community Service Award ceremony in April.
"We are really pleased that our student-athletes are so involved in projects that benefit people and organizations in need," Director of Athletics Greg Prechtl said. "Engaging young people in community service is an important and valuable part of our mission. We are proud of what our athletes have accomplished in this area and hope to expand their efforts even further in the future."
