SAAC Community Outreach

1. Alex's Lemonade Stand

Background: In 2000, a 4 year old cancer patient named Alexandra "Alex" Scott announced a seemingly simple idea -she was holding a lemonade stand to raise money to help "her doctors" find a cure for kids with cancer. The idea was put into action by Alex and her older brother, Patrick, when they set up the first "Alex's Lemonade Stand for Childhood Cancer" on their front lawn in July of 2000.

For the next four years, despite her deteriorating health, Alex held an annual lemonade stand to raise money for childhood cancer research. Following her inspirational example, thousands of lemonade stands and other fundraising events have been held across the country by children, schools, businesses, and organizations, all to benefit Alex's Lemonade Stand Foundation for childhood cancer. On August 1st, 2004, Alex died peacefully at the age of 8 -- she had raised over $1 million for childhood cancer research in her short lifetime.

Alex's spirited determination to raise awareness and money for all childhood cancer while she bravely fought her own deadly battle with cancer has inspired thousands of people, from all walks of life to raise money and give to her cause. Alex's family and supporters are committed to continuing her inspiring legacy through Alex's Lemonade Stand Foundation, a registered 501c3 charity. As of June 2007, Alex's Lemonade Stand Foundation has raised over $16 million for childhood cancer research. The result -- Alex's Lemonade Stand Foundation has given millions of dollars for childhood cancer research across the country.

The Hofstra SAAC has partnered with Alex’s foundation to sponsor on-campus lemonade stands at select home Men’s and Women’s Basketball games, with all proceeds going directly to pediatric cancer research.

Participating Student-Athletes: SAAC – Department-wide

Venue: Mack Arena

2. Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center Holiday Visit

Background: The world's oldest and largest private cancer center, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center (MSKCC) has devoted more than a century to patient care as well as to innovative research, making significant contributions to new and better therapies for the treatment of cancer.

On December 6th, the Men’s Basketball team and the Hofstra SAAC will be visiting the pediatric facilities at MSKCC to spend quality time with some of the younger patients, as well as distribute candy canes, media guides and holiday cheer.

Participating Student-Athletes: Men’s Basketball, SAAC

Venue: MSKCC

3. Long Island Breast Cancer Coalition - "Spike Out Breast Cancer"

Background: 1 in 9: The Long Island Breast Cancer Action Coalition has been committed to fighting the breast cancer epidemic through education, outreach, advocacy, spearheading changes to legislation affecting cancer issues, and continuously raising money to support innovative epidemiological cancer research projects at Cold Spring Harbor Laboratories.

Started in November of 1990 when Fran Kritchek, Marie Quinn and a group of women suffering from cancer broke the silence about the disease and made a declaration of action.

Goals:

Raise awareness of the epidemic of breast cancer and keep the disease in the forefront
Obtain funding for research
Investigate the link between pesticides and breast cancer as Long Island is a farm area
Increase detection of breast cancer
Find the causes, a cure and how to prevent breast cancer

Laying the Foundation

Spearheaded the drive for the Long Island Breast Cancer Research Project
Fought to effect New York State's Pesticide Registry Law
Pushed for passage of the Neighborhood Notification Bill, which requires commercial pesticide applicators to notify neighbors with adjoining properties
Fought for the passage of the Income Tax Check-Off for breast cancer research
Advocated for New York State's Women's Health Law of 1997, putting an end to drive-through mastectomies
Opened Hewlett House, a refuge for patients and families affected by breast cancer, in March 2001.
Today 1 in 9 has expanded to provide direct services for patients, their families and friends through its programs at Hewlett House

1 in 9: The Long Island Breast Cancer Coalition teamed up with Hofstra University’s Volleyball team to raise awareness at the “Spike Out Breast Cancer” spring volleyball tournament/fundraiser at Hofstra University’s Physical Education Center on April 14, 2007. The goal of the fundraiser was to educate young female-athletes about breast cancer while raising money for the non-profit organization

The tournament hosted teams from the tri-state area, and each team donated $1 per player. There was also a table set up, where pink ribbons were distributed for a minimum $1 donation upon entry, as well as educational material on Breast Cancer and the 1 in 9 organization.

Participating Student-Athletes: Volleyball, SAAC

Venue: Physical Education Center

4. HEADstrong Foundation

Background: Created to honor the memory of former Hofstra Men’s Lacrosse student-athlete Nick Colleluori, their mission is to support and raise funds for blood cancer cure, treatment & research; as well as to raise public awareness about blood cancer and to educate and encourage others to do the same.

HEADstrong merchandise is sold at all home lacrosse events by Hofstra student-athletes, with all proceeds going back to the foundation.

Participating Student-Athletes: Men’s Lacrosse, Women’s Lacrosse, SAAC

Venue: Shuart Stadium

5. Big Brothers & Big Sisters Holiday Gift Card Drive

Background: Big Brothers Big Sisters is the oldest, largest and most effective youth mentoring organization in the United States, and have been the leader in one-to-one youth service for more than a century, developing positive relationships that have a direct and lasting impact on the lives of young people. Big Brothers Big Sisters mentors children, ages 6 through 18, in communities across the country.

All student-athletes have been asked to donate one gift card from any mass-retailer (Target, Wal-Mart, etc.) carrying a minimum value of $10. The team with the highest participation rate will be recognized with a plaque by Big Brothers & Big Sisters of Long Island at the Men’s Basketball game v. JMU on January 4th. Additional donations will be collected by members of the SAAC at select home events:

Participating Student-Athletes: SAAC – Department-wide

Venue: Men’s Basketball v. UNCW – December 1st
Women’s Basketball v. Stony Brook – December 4th
Wrestling v. Harvard – December 9th
Men’s Basketball v. Stony Brook – December 12th
Men’s Basketball v. UNCC – December 15th
Women’s Basketball v. SMU – December 21st]

6. National PTA Parents as Reading Partners Literacy Program

Background: Parents As Reading Partners was designed in 1987 by the New York State PTA and is a collaborative effort among parents, staff, and community to build a reading partnership between the home and the school.

Hofstra student-athletes from various teams have participated in two themed events (“Reading Olympics,” “Read to Feed") over the past year in which they have worked on literacy skills with elementary school-aged children.

Participating Student-Athletes: SAAC – Department-wide

Venue: Meadow Drive Elementary School

7. "What I Want to Be Day"

Background: Approximately 1,600 local elementary school students from 15 different districts were invited to campus on January 25th for a day of interactive learning experiences, as well the Women’s Basketball game v. UNCW. Each district was assigned a Hofstra student-athlete host for the day from one of the athletic teams.

Participating Student-Athletes: Women’s Basketball, SAAC

Venue: Mack Arena

8. “May Madness"

Background: Based on the NCAA National Championship Tournament of the same name, this event for elementary school-aged students was centered around a bracketed intramural basketball tournament, while simultaneously focusing on critical learning skills. Members of the Men’s Basketball team acted as “Guest Coaches.”

Participating Student-Athletes: Men’s Basketball, SAAC

Venue: Washington Street Elementary School