Editor’s note: Jacob Mooney lost his battle with cancer on Feb. 11, 2011. The Sage women’s basketball team was scheduled to have a second Jumpers for Jacob game, but instead had a moment of silence in his honor.
The Sage women’s basketball student-athletes put on wings earlier this month. The Gators hosted the Mount Saint Vincent Dolphins in a game that also served as a fund raiser for Jacob’s Angels. The organization benefits the family of Jacob Mooney, a third-grader from Watervliet, New York, who has non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma.
The ‘Jumpers for Jacob’ initiative by Sage raised about $1,300 for Jacob’s Angels. The Troy Record’s Andrew Sanillo wrote a great story about the event, with quotes from Jacob’s mother, Danielle Hamrick, and his sister Kayleana. Check out more photos here and a recap of the game here.
Senior forward Jessica Byerwalters said in a release from the school that the team is happy to do what it can to help the youngster.
“Working with Jacob is very important not just to him, but to me as well because he needs to have positive influences and people who care for him,” she said. “Being a part of his life, whether it be a big or small part is more than what he had before. I, as well as my teammates didn’t have to think twice when asked if we wanted to do something for Jacob and his family.”
Many NCAA teams are giving back to their communities during the holiday season, such as the University of Puget Sound softball team’s involvement with the Salvation Army’s Adopt-A-Family program. The student-athletes wrapped up warm clothing, food and toys so one family could have presents under the tree.
Here’s a sampling of other holiday initiatives:
University of Texas, Arlington student-athletes donate to Salvation Army: UT Arlington student-athletes dressed as Santa Claus and took pictures with local children and donated the proceeds to the Salvation Army Angel Tree program. Read more.
Pepperdine women’s soccer shows support for Toys for Tots: Head coach Tim Ward and student-athletes buy and wrap gifts for children in need. Read more.
Sam Houston State donates school supplies to local elementary: For the third consecutive year, student-athletes from all 17 sports teams and the athletic training staff at Sam Houston State University are working to see that more than 60 under-privileged children at Sam Houston Elementary School will have school supplies for the coming year. Read more.
Stephen F. Austin student-athletes purchase toys for empty stocking fund: Members from all Stephen F. Austin varsity sports gathered at the William R. Johnson Coliseum Sunday evening to deliver toys for Nacogdoches Welfare. Read more.
McNeese State athletics takes part in Toys for Tots competition: McNeese State’s soccer team won the Toys for Tots competition among the university athletic teams in a recent Southland Conference “Twelve Days of Christmas” contest to see who could bring in the most toys for the local program. Read more.
Christopher Newport Wins “Cans Across the Conference”: The members of the USA South Athletic Conference Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) realized that not everyone is as fortunate as they are and wanted to do something to help make it a happier holiday in their communities. Read more.
Alverno SAAC collects over 7,000 items in annual food drive competition: Alverno collected the most items in the community service competition amongst the 13 institutions in the NAC, setting a new record in the annual service initiative. Read more.
