EMU Student-Athletes Continue to Give Back

YPSILANTI, Mich. (EMUEagles.com) — Throughout the 2016-17 academic year, student-athletes from each of Eastern Michigan University's 21 varsity programs took time out of their academic and athletic schedules to help out around the Ypsilanti community. With an emphasis on giving back to our local and campus communities, the student-athletes collectively participated in more than 3,500 volunteer hours.

During the 2016-17 academic year, all 21 EMU teams continued the tradition of working closely with the campus and local community. In total, EMU Athletics completed more than 3,500 volunteer hours the fourth straight year, with a grand total of 3,959 hours logged.

Through a generous gift from an EMU donor, EMU Athletics continued its partnership with the Detroit chapter of buildOn and EMU Bright Futures for the second-ever "Building Bright Futures at the Factory" event. This unique event for students from first through 12th grade, who will be predominantly first generation college students, combines service learning, exercise, a college tour, and a Division I college football experience for the students and their families.

EMU SAAC teamed up with Kleats 4 Kids to collect gently used or new athletic shoes to donate to the local community for the second consecutive year. Kleats 4 Kids strives to help underprivileged kids acquire the necessary footwear needed to play sports. From December through February, EMU Athletics collected footwear donations at home athletics events and the members of SAAC worked together to clean-up the footwear, before making the donation of shoes to the Detroit Police Athletic League (PAL). The Detroit PAL is an organization dedicated to building character in young people through athletic, academic and leadership development programs, impacting roughly 12,000 youth annually.

EMU student-athletes participated in the 2nd and 7 Foundation's Tackle Illiteracy program for the third straight year. A total of 244 student-athletes, representing all of our 21 varsity teams, visited 24 second-grade classrooms throughout Ypsilanti, reading to the children, handing out books, and reminding students about the importance of reading. This year's student-athlete participation total was a 5 percent increase over last year's participants.

Following a graffiti incident on campus, the EMU student government introduced plans for a Unity Mural. Student-athletes came together with the rest of campus, connecting the entire EMU community for support of plans and awareness of human rights.

The EMU football team put the Popeye's Bahamas Bowl celebration on the back burner, Dec. 21, as the student-athletes and staff went out around the local community to interact to with children. The teams split up into three groups to give their time at two hostels, as well as at a football clinic. The EMU players interacted with the kids at the hostels, engaging in activities and getting to know the youths. The children at the local establishments came from troubled backgrounds, as the hostel served as a safe space where they can learn and grow in a protected environment. With the EMU players there, the kids instantly lit up as the opportunity to play games with the football players made their afternoons.

The EMU football team held its fourth annual EMU Victory Day, as the Eagles hosted more than 140 cognitively and physically impaired children. Student-athletes, as well as the coaching staff, took part in an exciting event of football related activities inside EMU's Indoor Practice Facility.

For the first time, EMU gymnastics and softball partnered with Team IMPACT for a pair of honorary signees. Through Team IMPACT, a nonprofit based in Boston whose mission is to improve the quality of life for children facing life-threatening and chronic illnesses through the power of team, both became members of the EMU teams, attending practices, games, and events.

EMU soccer, volleyball, women's basketball, tennis, and wrestling volunteered their time at the 12th annual T. Wall Foundation Victors Day event held at the University of Michigan, March 17. Victors Day is a fundraising event for the T. Wall Foundation, which teaches special needs children and children who have spent much of their time in the hospital how to play sports. The 2017 Victors Day brings together Michigan and EMU student-athletes and over 750 specials needs students from all over Washtenaw County.

Both the men's and women's cross country and track and field teams volunteered their mornings at the JDRF One Walk, held Sept. 18 in Dexter, Mich. at Hudson Mills Metropark. In total, the event raised $572,844.63 for the fight against Type 1 diabetes. The Eagles have been volunteering at the event for a number of years. JDRF One Walk has a single goal: creating a world without Type 1 diabetes (T1D).

Men's and women's swimming & diving volunteered as meet workers for the MHSAA swimming & diving championships to help produce a championship environment for the high-school student-athletes.

The EMU women's basketball team, along with the EMU of Department of Athletics, had a series of events to celebrate National Girls and Women in Sports Day in conjunction with the home game against Western Michigan, Jan. 14. Children participated in activities led by the EMU women's sports teams. There, they learned the importance of being active in sports, as well as receive autographs from the student-athletes in attendance. In addition, the EMU Cheer team hosted a free clinic and had the ability to perform at halftime of the game.

EMU baseball raised $685 for the Relay for Life by growing beards to support the awareness campaign.

EMU rowing team hosted a kayaking event as part of the Special Olympic State Fall Games, Sept. 25, at its boathouse in Ypsilanti. The event was an opportunity for the team to give back to the local community and teach kids the sport of rowing and kayaking in a safe and fun environment. This marked the first time the Special Olympics has offered kayaking in its State Fall Games lineup, and the Eagles jumped at the opportunity to host the event. The State Fall Games consists of state finals competitions in cycling, flag football, golf, soccer, softball, and kayaking, and featured over 1,600 athletes competing.

Eastern Michigan Athletics

Related Videos