Softball Team Donates Award Winnings To Hurricane Relief Efforts
September 08, 2005 | Softball
Sept. 8, 2005
GREENVILLE, N.C. --- The East Carolina softball team has donated one-half of its $1,000 prize as the winner of the 2005 ECU Student Development Award to assist the victims of Hurricane Katrina announced athletic department officials Thursday. A donation in the amount of $500 will be made to the Conference USA Relief Fund.
"These kids never cease to amaze me," stated head coach Tracey Kee. "I believe this gesture speaks volumes to the kind of student-athletes they are. No win has ever made me happier than hearing the words `we want to help. We want to donate, because it's the right thing to do.' They were recipients of this award for donating their time to the local community. It's so rewarding to see them stretch beyond the immediate boundaries to help others in need.They truly are remarkable kids, and Coach Koz and I couldn't be prouder."
The Student Development Award is given annually to the team that best exemplifies the five components of the NCAA C.H.A.M.P.S/Life Skills program, which includes a commitment to athletic excellence, academic excellence, personal development, career development and community service. The monetary prize is given to assist with things such as purchasing equipment and team travel.
The Life Skills program was started by the NCAA in 1994 with the goal of helping student-athletes to develop into well-rounded citizens. The Student Development Award was established in 2003 in an effort to cause ECU student-athletes to become more involved with the program. The softball team also won the award in its inaugural year.
The C-USA Relief has been established to assist those affected and relocated by Hurricane Katrina. Monetary donations, as well as essential items, will be accepted and distributed to C-USA member institutions Tulane and Southern Miss. Additional resources will also be sent to the American Red Cross to distribute to Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama communities in need. All donations are 100 percent tax deductible and should be sent to:
C-USA Relief Fund
5201 N. O'Connor Blvd., Suite 300
Irving, TX 75039
Checks should be made payable to "C-USA Relief Fund." Credit card charges cannot be accepted.
For more information, and a list of essential items, please log onto the Conference USA website at www.conferenceusa.com.
