2008 Woodie Awards
Rock athletes & coaches team up to help children in need
Forgotten Angels hope to raise $25,000 in 2008
By Haley Gaidosh
Rocket Contributor
Issue date: 3/28/08 Section: Sports
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SRU Forgotten Angels was founded by a group of student athletes in 2008.
The organization works toward bettering the lives of less-fortunate children around the world.
The first project the organization is undertaking is what's called the Haiti Relief Fund.
The student athletes involved are not only trying to raise money for kids on the Caribbean island, but they are also trying to raise awareness about the plight of underprivileged children around the world, and especially, for this project, children in Haiti.
The organization's name refers to the children it aims to help, the "forgotten angels" of the world who are often overlooked in a world in which importance is based on wealth.
Shaun Reid, a member of the men's soccer team, and Matthew Thompson, head coach of the SRU men's soccer team, founded the organization after their experience of donating the players' old jerseys to orphanages in Haiti last year.
"None of this is possible without the help of the group," Reid said. "It's easy to develop it, but to go through with all the efforts, the help of others is needed. Who else better to help than students who are lucky enough to be in the position we are in as role-model figures in the lives of these underprivileged children?"
Another goal of the organization is to use sports as a universal language in order to involve different communities around the world.
"Student athletes aren't always looked upon in a good light, especially with the recent events that have occurred with the track photographs on the front page of The Rocket," Reid said. "This was a chance to get the community involved and…gives us a chance to do something for the betterment of others. We really do want to help people."
The group is composed of 30 student athletes from various teams along with a handful of SRU varsity coaches.
The student athletes created the organization from scratch, and every aspect of the whole trip to Haiti is a combined effort of the group, the community and the students.
"Shaun and coach have been pivotal, but I've been really happy with the level of responsibility taken on by fellow college athletes," said Patrick Cormac, a member of the men's soccer team and part of the SRU Forgotten Angels. "There's a huge amount of work to be done and it's great to see people step up and take charge of the many elements of this project."
The SRU Forgotten Angels' first endeavor is a summer trip to Haiti to work with children at the Evangelical Bible Army of Christ Orphanage, which houses about 65 children at any one time.
Thompson stressed the importance of the project in combining the community and campus to work toward a common goal: helping those that are less fortunate.
"This is a great way for student athletes of different sports to work together, and it also allows the local community to become involved," Thompson said.
The goal of this organization is to have a project each year, not only in Haiti this summer, but in various locations around the world in the years to come.
The specific details of the projects for the upcoming years are undetermined.
The organization's goal for 2008 is to raise $25,000 to cover the costs of a mission trip, as well as financial donations to the EBAC Orphanage in Haiti.
"We are trying to donate as much sports gear as we can, such as old jerseys, uniforms, shoes, and sports equipment, and trying to unite student athletes and the community through a common goal using the universal appeal of sports in a positive way," Cormac said.
Not only are the SRU Forgotten Angels trying to donate equipment, but they're also trying to raise awareness of the issues around the world that most people neglect to become educated about, like child poverty.
The organization's main goal is to raise enough money to send a team of volunteers to Haiti this summer to put on sports clinics, donate sports equipment and clothes and give the children attention that they normally don't get.
The organization is trying to fundraise through activities such as the Person Auction in late April.
"With this activity, the athlete is auctioned off to a bidder to spend the day with the winner," Reid said.
There are many fundraisers that will be held throughout the month of April, Reid said.
He also noted that there's one specific fundraiser that's expected to aid in the organization's efforts.
"The Sports Marathon is the pinnacle of our fundraising efforts," Reid said.
The Sports Marathon is being held at the Aebersold Recreation Center from 9 p.m. on April 25 until noon on April 26.
It is an all-night sports tournament where there will be a number of intramural sports available, from dodgeball to soccer.
There will also be DJs, live bands, dance crews and giveaways.
Tickets will be sold for $10 at the door.
"I want 1,000 or more students," Reid said. "I don't think anything has happened like this on campus. I want people to be excited about this event. It really gives everyone a chance to help out and have fun at the same time."
Members of the organization are hoping that this will encourage people to stay on campus for the weekend, instead of going home or traveling away from SRU.
"This really is a fantastic group to be involved in," Cormac said. "It's a caring and committed congregation of people that really are going to make a positive difference to those who are less fortunate than us."
SRU Forgotten Angels encourages all students to become involved in any way possible.
Not only through monetary donations, but also by providing general support and encouragement to their fellow students and athletes.
"The work that's going into putting these events together deserves rewards, and this group has worked so hard, so we are relying on the student body to back us and support us in our goal of helping others," Reid said.
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