September 23, 2009
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Carole Grills
(413) 585-2703
Smith Coaches & Administrators Support Charities
Northampton, MA: As the academic year comes to an end each year, many members of the Smith Athletic Department take the time to help raise money for charities near and dear to their hearts.
Tennis coach, Christine Davis, has been involved with the Babe Zaharias Golf and Tennis Classic since its inception in 1982. Held in Davis' hometown of Columbus, Ohio each August, the event has raised more than $6 million for the American Cancer Society and is the most successful women's golf and tennis tournament in the country. Davis runs the tennis portion of the event. With the help of over 100 volunteers, the Classic raised over $320,000 this past summer. Davis also is actively involved in donating time and tennis lessons to the Circle of Friends, a fundraiser for Leukemia research and cancer research for children, held each June in central Ohio. She also gives her time to Operation Christmas Child, an organization that sends seasonal gifts to children all over the world.
Former softball and volleyball coach and now assistant athletic director, Bonnie May, just completed her 9th Pan Mass Challenge. The 192 mile, two-day event raises about 50% of the total budge for the Jimmy Fund which was established in 1948 to help fight against cancer in children and adults at Boston's Dana-Farber Cancer Institute. May, who does the ride every other year, had her most successful fundraising ride this past August as she collected $8,300 in pledges and personally has raised a total over $40,000. The Pan Mass Challenge raised $34,000,000 last year in just two days and this year the total stands at $30,000,000 with a month left for participants to collect remaining donations. "What impresses me the most, other than all the riders that train all summer for this event (5,000 this year), are the 2500 plus volunteers that make it all happen and all the people who line the course over the two days to cheer and support the riders. I can't describe the emotion I felt the first time I passed a sign along the way held by a little girl that read 'I'm 4 years old and alive today because of you...thank you for riding'. The motto 'Closer by the Mile' says it all and it's worth every stroke of my pedals," states May. Another goal for Bonnie has been to encourage at least one new rider to attempt the ride with her. She has been successful in that as well and this year convinced lacrosse coach, Wendy Walker, to ride with her.
In her first ride for the Pan Mass Challenge, Wendy raised just over $4,600. Her reasons for riding? "Friends, family and future. I want to do what I can to work toward a cure." She enjoyed the training that went into the ride and was encouraged by the power of teamwork and the strong belief in making a difference. Wendy also participated in the Avon Breast Cancer Walk, a 60-mile, 3-day event from Fitchburg to Boston and raised over $2,000. She has also participated in the Harbor to the Bay-AIDS Ride, a 125-mile, one-day ride from Boston to Provincetown.
Biking appears to be the activity of choice among the Smith staff. Ski coach, Steve Samolewicz, has been riding for the last 10 years in the American Lung Association's bike trek on Cape Cod. The three-day, 168 mile event starts in Plymouth and ends in P-town. How did he get involved? "Several years ago some friends asked my wife and me to ride and we joined up. It's inspiring to ride and see how our efforts help to fund research and care projects for people afflicted with lung disease, especially the young kids. More often than not, we rode our bikes in rain but had a good time nonethless." Steve's team, 'The Plastic Utensils' raises between $10,000-$12,000 yearly.
Track and field coach, Carla Coffey, has been involved with "Jason's Dream Team" for the past four years. The league, created in the memory of a family member, allows children and adults with moderate to severe disabilities an opportunity to 'play ball.' The modified softball league plays every Sunday during the months of June and July. No team score is maintained so everyone wins. This event isn't the traditional "fundraiser". Donations from sponsors and friends cover refreshments at the end of each game and the season ending picnic where each person receives a team picture and trophy. States Coffey, "the best moments are the smiles of the kids in wheel chairs and other special needs kids as they participate. It's more about giving back than raising money."
