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

2009-10 Officers

President - Brittany Cornelius
Vice President - Olivia Izze
Secretary - Kelsey Hukee
Treasurer - Katelyn Thacker

Advisor:  Greg Jarvis/Fiona Barkley

Sub-Committees

Athletes Supporting Athletes/Social Events
Kara Baughman
Morgan White
Ashley Pearsall
Becki Roebock

Olivia Izze

Zannah Webster

Cans for the Conference/Pennies for a Purpose
Brittney Cornelius

Renada Vuono
Mary Woessner
Kelsey Hukee

Alcohol Awareness Week
Katelyn Thacker

Molly Parks
Lauren McDonald
Sam Ramsdell
Joyce McLeod
Logan Hill

2009-10 Minutes

August 2009

The NCAA SAAC website has more information.

For more information, please contact Greg Jarvis at (919)760-8811, jarvisgr@meredith.edu or Fiona Barkley at (919) 760-2374, barkleyf@meredith.edu.