Dec. 18, 2017 Community Service: Boilers Care / John R. Wooden Leadership Institute
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. - Purdue Athletics is held in high esteem for its visibility in West Lafayette, Lafayette and Tippecanoe County.
Each year, 100 percent of Boilermaker student-athletes participate in a community service activity, amassing more than 5,000 hours annually.
Such involvement takes on special meaning during the holiday season.
"Following our mission of being champions, scholars and citizens, Purdue student-athletes clearly understand the importance of servant leadership and community service," leadership advisor Cathy Wright-Eger said. "The holiday season seems to bring out the very best in them."
To wit:
Members of the football team went to the Salvation Army Lafayette on Dec. 4 to assist with its Angel Tree program, which puts new clothes and toys under the tree for children who usually have to go without Christmas gifts. On Monday, football will visit the Joyful Journey adult day center.
For the seventh straight year, men's basketball is teaming up with Meijer and Willowstone Family Services to provide a holiday shopping spree for disadvantaged families in the area. Each team member is donating a portion of his holiday break per diem and will be paired with a family for the outing, which is scheduled for Tuesday.
"We are fortunate to have all the things we have here at Purdue," men's basketball senior guard Dakota Mathias said. "When you go see other people that are not as fortunate, it really makes you step back, think and appreciate."
Women's basketball adopted a single-parent family from a local high school and purchased Christmas gifts.
Track & field student-athletes raised nearly $2,000, including donating almost $1,500 of their own money, to sponsor three families during the holiday season. The Boilermakers bought and wrapped gifts for the families and their children, who range from 4 to 12 years old.
"Our team represented Purdue, themselves and their families exceedingly well," head track & field coach Lonnie Greene said. "I challenge them every year to be a blessing in the community. You never know what others are going through or when you'll be the one in need of a blessing. They took that challenge and ran with it, and for that I'm very proud."
Continuing a holiday tradition, members of the wrestling team rang the bells for the Salvation Army on Dec. 6. It was the annual "Purdue vs. Indiana Day," and the Boilermakers - with help from the academic services staff - raised more money than the Hoosiers.
Women's tennis invited 6-year-old Addyson Wooldridge, who they "adopted" last summer, to its team holiday party, and each student-athlete gave her a gift. Wooldridge was diagnosed with Spina Bifida at birth along with several other medical conditions. She is a regular at Purdue home matches.
The Purdue Athletics staff conducted a food drive to help support the local Food Finders Food Bank from Dec. 4 to 15.
Boilermaker fans got in on the spirit of the season, as well, donating more than 5,000 cans of food at men's and women's basketball games Dec. 10.
On behalf of everyone with Purdue Athletics, Happy Holidays.
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. - Purdue Athletics is held in high esteem for its visibility in West Lafayette, Lafayette and Tippecanoe County.
Each year, 100 percent of Boilermaker student-athletes participate in a community service activity, amassing more than 5,000 hours annually.
Such involvement takes on special meaning during the holiday season.
"Following our mission of being champions, scholars and citizens, Purdue student-athletes clearly understand the importance of servant leadership and community service," leadership advisor Cathy Wright-Eger said. "The holiday season seems to bring out the very best in them."
To wit:
Members of the football team went to the Salvation Army Lafayette on Dec. 4 to assist with its Angel Tree program, which puts new clothes and toys under the tree for children who usually have to go without Christmas gifts. On Monday, football will visit the Joyful Journey adult day center.
For the seventh straight year, men's basketball is teaming up with Meijer and Willowstone Family Services to provide a holiday shopping spree for disadvantaged families in the area. Each team member is donating a portion of his holiday break per diem and will be paired with a family for the outing, which is scheduled for Tuesday.
"We are fortunate to have all the things we have here at Purdue," men's basketball senior guard Dakota Mathias said. "When you go see other people that are not as fortunate, it really makes you step back, think and appreciate."
Women's basketball adopted a single-parent family from a local high school and purchased Christmas gifts.
Track & field student-athletes raised nearly $2,000, including donating almost $1,500 of their own money, to sponsor three families during the holiday season. The Boilermakers bought and wrapped gifts for the families and their children, who range from 4 to 12 years old.
"Our team represented Purdue, themselves and their families exceedingly well," head track & field coach Lonnie Greene said. "I challenge them every year to be a blessing in the community. You never know what others are going through or when you'll be the one in need of a blessing. They took that challenge and ran with it, and for that I'm very proud."
Continuing a holiday tradition, members of the wrestling team rang the bells for the Salvation Army on Dec. 6. It was the annual "Purdue vs. Indiana Day," and the Boilermakers - with help from the academic services staff - raised more money than the Hoosiers.
Women's tennis invited 6-year-old Addyson Wooldridge, who they "adopted" last summer, to its team holiday party, and each student-athlete gave her a gift. Wooldridge was diagnosed with Spina Bifida at birth along with several other medical conditions. She is a regular at Purdue home matches.
The Purdue Athletics staff conducted a food drive to help support the local Food Finders Food Bank from Dec. 4 to 15.
Boilermaker fans got in on the spirit of the season, as well, donating more than 5,000 cans of food at men's and women's basketball games Dec. 10.
On behalf of everyone with Purdue Athletics, Happy Holidays.