Meredith SAAC Takes 2009 "Pennies for a Purpose"

Fayetteville, N.C. – The Meredith College Student Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) took the 2009 "Pennies for a Purpose" title by more than doubling the contributions from the second place school and providing over half of the total donations for the USA South Athletic Conference.  In an effort to help worthy organizations during the spring semester, the USA South SAAC developed, "Pennies for a Purpose", in 2008. This penny drive, in its second year, began on March 1 and continued until April 10. Until that time, schools were encouraged to collect loose change which would later be donated to an organization of their choosing.

Overall, the USA South institutions collected $4,365.48! Over the two-year history of the program, the USA South institutions have donated $7,087.24 to local organizations. With a grand total of $2,372.50, Meredith College is the Pennies for a Purpose champion for 2009. Meredith will donate its winning amount to the Kay Yow Cancer Fund. The Avenging Angels will be presented the Pennies for a Purpose plaque at a later date. Mary Baldwin College raised $935.23 to finish second while Peace College's $391.21 rounded out the top-three.

Each institution donated their collections to various organizations in their local communities. Averett University donated its collection to God's Storehouse, a food bank for the less fortunate in Danville, Va. Christopher Newport made its donation to the Boys and Girls Club of Newport News, Va. Ferrum College shared its donation with the local St. James Center. Greensboro College made its donation to the local Urban Ministry. Mary Baldwin College donated its amount to Relay for Life. Peace College sent its collection to the American Spinal Injury Association. Finally, Shenandoah University is still deciding who will receive its collection.

This is the second community service program developed by the USA South Conference SAAC as the "Cans Across the Conference" food drive, which takes place during the Thanksgiving holiday, was created in 2004. Through that campaign, USA South Institutions have donated a total of 85,020 items to their local communities.

2008-09 Stories

2008 Cans Across the Conference

Fayetteville, N.C. – The holidays are a time to give thanks and appreciate the blessings in one's life. 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. And so Cans Across the Conference was initiated in 2004.

Overall, the USA South institutions collected a Conference record 22,807 items. Over the five-year history of the program, USA South Conference institutions have donated 85,020 items to various organizations.

With an grand total of 5,820 items, Christopher Newport University is the Cans Across the Conference Champion for 2008. The Captains, winners of the can drive in 2006 as well, will be presented the Cans Across the Conference Trophy at a later date. Shenandoah University collected 5,467 items to finish a close second while Ferrum's 3,265 items rounded out the top-three. Meredith collected 1,406 cans.

Meredith's SAAC Spotlighted

Raleigh, N.C. - The Meredith Student Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) was spotlighted by the National SAAC in the quarterly NCAA Division III newsletter. Meredith was spotlighted for the clinic they held in October 2007 for the Special Olympics of Wake County.

SAAC Spotlight - Division III newsletter

SAAC NEWS

Girls In Sport Day!
Meredith student-athletes hosted a small clinic for 2nd-6th grade girls teaching about different sports skills and healthy habits.  The Meredith College Girls in Sport Day was held on Feb. 23, 2008.  This clinic focused on exposing young girls to traditional sports such as basketball, volleyball, and soccer, as well as growing sports like lacrosse and various racquet sports.  The clinic also informed the girls about healthy eating habits and focused on the new MyPyramid.  This gave Meredith student-athletes a chance to teach a skill and gain leadership skills and was a wonderful opportunity for these young girls to meet some great collegiate athletes.

Special Olympics
The SAAC worked directly with the Special Olympics of Wake County to organize Meredith’s first Special Olympics clinic here on campus.  On October 28, 2007 Meredith student-athletes representing all six sports came together to provide both a soccer and tennis clinic for Special Olympic athletes.  The clinic aspect gave the Meredith student-athletes a chance to work on their leadership skills as they created stations for the Special Olympic athletes and took charge to instruct and help athletes of all different abilities.  The event had a great turnout, with approximately sixty Special Olympic athletes, seventy-five Meredith student-athletes and staff, and plenty of parents and friends as spectators.  The clinic was followed by a pizza party on campus for all participants.  The event proved to be a success for both the Special Olympic athletes, who seemed to enjoy the interaction with college athletes, as well as our own Meredith student-athletes, who gained a lot of personal growth from this experience.  This is definitely an event Meredith wishes to host again next year.

2007 Cans Across The Conference
Fayetteville, N.C. – The holidays are a time to give thanks and appreciate the blessings in one's life. The members of the USA South Athletic Conference Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) realize that not everyone is as fortunate as they are and wanted to do something to help make it a happier holiday in their communities. Therefore, the SAAC began Cans Across the Conference in 2004.

The USA South Athletic Conference Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) is currently conducting its fourth-annual Cans Across the Conference competition. The competition will run until Friday, November 16, 2007 and at that time the Cans Across the Conference trophy will be awarded to the USA South member institution that collects the most cans. 

2007 USA South "Cans Across The Conference" Final Results

Increasing Fans at Games
SAAC recently created punch cards in an effort to increase fans at sporting events. Attendees at Meredith sporting events can pick up a punch card and receive a stamp at every sporting event they attend. A card with 10 stamps can be redeemed for a 15% discount on clothing and merchandise at the student store in the Cate Student Center. Also, SAAC has been “chalking” the sidewalks around campus prior to every sporting event to spread the word about our home games/matches and increase fans at games!

Community Service
SAAC was informed of the DIII Community Service Initiative with Habitat for Humanity and immediately signed up to be involved in a Habitat for Humanity Project right here in Raleigh, NC on April 21, 2007. In short, the NCAA encourages at least 60% of DIII institutions to participate in Habitat for Humanity in the next year. For more information about the DIII initiative with Habitat for Humanity, please check out their web site.

Additionally, the soccer is participating in another community service project, Service Raleigh, on March 31, 2007.

Members of SAAC are also volunteering their time at a soup kitchen in downtown Raleigh the week of March 12, 2007, and plan to continue to do so once a month.

2008-09 Officers

President - Sam Povich
Vice President - Brittany Cornelius
Secretary - Amanda Bitler
Treasurer - Diamond McClendon

Advisor:  Kelly Weaver

Sub-Committees

Athletes Supporting Athletes
Samantha Povich
Becki Roebock
Morgan White
Kayla Carter
Dara Bifalco
Toni Tricarico
Carra Sykes
Ashleigh VanDriesen

Campus and Community Involvement
Meredith Roberson
Brittany Cornelius
Charis Hill
Keyotta Sanford
Diamond McClendon
Anna Beavon Gravely
Sydney Williford
Kathryn Maples

Alcohol Awareness Week
Brittany Cornelius
Sydney Williford
Kayla Carter
Morgan White

2008-09 Minutes

April 2009
March 2009
January 2009
September 2008
October 2008

2007-08 Minutes

September 2007
October 2007
November 2007
January 2008
February 2008
March 2008
April 2008

2006-07 Minutes

September 2006
November 2006
January 2007
February 2007
March 2007
April 2007

The NCAA SAAC website has more information.

For more information, please contact Kelly Weaver at (919) 760-8804 or weaverke@meredith.edu.