LOUISVILLE, Ky. --- In the group's first meeting in mid-October, members of the Bellarmine Student-Athlete Advisory Committee set forth a goal for the athletic department. The organization, made up of 44 student-athletes from each of the school's 21 athletic teams, challenged every team on campus to do two service projects throughout the school year.
The second part of the challenge was for each team to have one of their two service projects benefit the Make-A-Wish Foundation, the official charity of NCAA Division-II. Since forming an alliance in 2003, the two organizations have raised more than $2.4 million and granted countless wishes to children with terminal diseases.
Nearly seven months later, the Bellarmine SAAC has raised over $3,500 for Make-A-Wish with all 21 teams participating. The programs took different approaches to raise money for the foundation, the lacrosse team held a free clinic after a game for local youths and asked for donations from participating families. Meanwhile, the men's and women's swimming teams collected pledges for each mile they swam in the month of January. Their goal was to swim the distance from Mary T. Meagher Aquatic Center where the team practices to Disney World in Florida, a destination wish for many children.
In addition to raising funds for Make-A-Wish, teams helped out numerous other organizations throughout Louisville, including Dare to Care, Wayside Christian Mission, St. Vincent de Paul and the Barton House.
The SAAC also sponsored two department wide service projects: a clean-up of the area neighborhood around Bellarmine and a Christmas drive for goods at the Ronald McDonald House.
The various projects were not just limited to local community and some even exceeded the nation's borders. During a Christmas trip San Juan, Puerto Rico, the women's basketball put on a free clinic at the local YMCA for the children of the city. Additionally, the women's soccer team collected shoes and other soccer equipment for children of Guatemala, with several members of the team taking the goods to the country during a spring break service trip.
Held in the fall, members of all 21 programs cleaned up trash and leaves around the Highlands in a joint project with Operation Brightside. A donor-funded organization, Operation Brightside's mission is to “beautify and foster community pride,” by uniting people through green and clean activities.
The entire department came together again during Christmas, raising over $500 for the Ronald McDonald House, which gives housing to families while their children are treated at Kosair Children's Hospital. The money raised goes to buying essential items for those staying at the house. Having locations across the country and all around the world, the Ronald McDonald House has given more than 700,000 families a place to call home during their difficult time.
