Once again through impressive donations and a commitment to community service at our annual convention, CoSIDA members have proven that athletic communications is a giving profession. The 
generosity of CoSIDA convention attendees, coupled with the hard work of the CoSIDA Goodwill and Wellness Committee and leaders of Young CoSIDA, raised $4,500 and collected and distributed 200 items to benefit the Coalition for the Homeless of Central Florida.
Gallaudet University Sports Information Director Sam Atkinson (right), Chair of the Goodwill and Wellness Committee, writes about the 2013 CoSIDA Convention community service efforts below.
By Sam Atkinson (Gallaudet University), Chair of CoSIDA Goodwill and Wellness Committee
CoSIDA demonstrated in its first joint convention with NACDA that it is a leader when it comes to community service, fundraising and physical fitness. The CoSIDA Goodwill and Wellness committee orchestrated three events during the CoSIDA convention (June 12-15) at the Orlando Marriott World Center that directly benefited the Coalition for the Homeless of Central Florida. The committee continues to champion the effort to show “CoSIDA Cares” during the annual convention.
The generosity from the CoSIDA membership in attendance helped raise $4,500 and collect 200 items for the Coalition for the Homeless. Young CoSIDA’s (YC) annual charity raffle gave away over 250 items and raised over $3,400 to benefit the Coalition for the Homeless.
The third annual CoSIDA 5K fun run/walk had 90 people signed up, which tallied $1,100 raised, the committee collected clothing donations for a fourth year in a row to be donated to the local charity during Wednesday’s (June 12) registration time period and a new record of 31 people participated in the fourth on-site service project in the last five
years.
“This was our best collective efforts to show ‘CoSIDA Cares’ during our annual convention. This wouldn’t have been possible without the continued and generous support of the CoSIDA Board of Directors,” CoSIDA Goodwill Committee Chair Sam Atkinson, SID at Gallaudet University, said. “The outpouring generosity of the CoSIDA membership has been overwhelming over the years as our committee has been able to orchestrate activities that address both goodwill and wellness at the convention. Thank you to everyone that donated to our clothing drive, participated in the 5K, volunteered at our service project or bought a ticket at Young CoSIDA’s raffle to benefit the Coalition for the Homeless of Central Florida.”
CoSIDA 5K Fun Run/Walk
Thursday morning (June 13) came early for the 75 participants, who got out of bed to support a great cause at the 6 a.m. CoSIDA 5K fun run/walk at the Hawks Landing Golf Course. The Goodwill and Wellness committee members ran pre-registration and on-site registration on Wednesday afternoon and Thursday morning prior to the start of the race, collecting entry fees of $10 per individual and $20 per family and distributing race numbers. The race was also open to anyone attending the NACDA convention.
A new champion was crowned on the men’s side as last year’s runner-up Steven Schoon (Marshall) dethroned two-time champion Jeremy Rosenthal (College of Charleston) with a time of 18:49. Rosenthal, a member of the Goodwill and Wellness committee, was close behind at 19:26. Dave Parsons (Mount Vernon Nazarene) was third (20:17), while Alan Grosbach (NAIA) edged Travis Whipple (Illinois Springfield) by one second, 20:23 and 20:24, respectively, to round out the top five.
On the women’s side, Janelle Mullin ran unattached and was the first woman to finish the 5K course in 23:46, good for 19th overall. Kimberly Keenan-Kirkpatrick, Seton Hall Senior Associate Athletic Director, was the second woman at 25:05 followed by Katie Botsis from University of Cincinnati (27:04), Alexis Mastronardi from Emmanuel College (27:06) and Kate Burkholder from University of Georgia (28:25) to complete the top five female runners.
There was one defending champion on the course that earned a second straight title, top walker Joe Carmany (Liberty). The competitive-race walker finished the 5K in 30 minutes and 48 seconds. He placed 42nd overall out of 75 runners/walkers.
CoSIDA Community Service
A record number of CoSIDA convention attendees participated in this year’s service project on Saturday, June 15, at the Women’s Residential and Counseling Center (WRCC) in downtown Orlando. The WRCC is part of the Coalition for the Homeless of Central Florida and is a facility for single mothers who are homeless and/or the victims of domestic violence.
The 24 CoSIDA volunteers along with seven volunteers from Full Sail University’s sports management program helped to run a “Water Day” fun day for the children and residents of the WRCC. Volunteers manned water slides, a bounce house, made water balloons, played with the children and passed out pizza, drinks and popsicles during the three-hour service project. The volunteers also helped to clean up the trash in the common area outside where the kids’ playgrounds are located so the children would have a clean and safe play area.
After the service project, Marty Vevera, the Director of Volunteer Services for the Coalition for the Homeless, debriefed the 31 volunteers and provided history and information about the WRCC and other services the Coalition for the Homeless provides.
“We want to thank everyone that took time out of their busy convention schedule to volunteer at the WRCC with us,” said CoSIDA Goodwill Committee Vice-Chair Ryan Klinkner, SID at Saint John’s University (Minn.). “It was great to provide a fun day for the children as they enjoyed the water slides, food and other activities that we had the good fortune to operate and interact with them. We look forward to working with them again in the future.”
Those who participated in the service project from CoSIDA included Atkinson, Klinkner, Joe Browning (UNC-Wilmington), Brad Folkestad (Bemidji State), Kevin Fountain (Centenary), Justin Glover (UNC-Greensboro), Kirk and Susan Hardcastle (NIACC), Paula Haughn (Ball State), Joe and Ali Hernandez (Ball State), Jeremiah and Kim Ingram (Conference USA), Dax Larson (Bemidji State), Chevonne and Cherelle Mansfield (SEC), Matt McCollester (UNC-Greensboro), Chris Mitchell (Washington, St. Louis), Amanda Murphy (Illinois-Springfield), Romanda Noble (South Carolina State), Diane Nordstrom (Wisconsin), Jeremy Rosenthal (College of Charleston), Brian Stanley (Radford) and Chip Welch (UNC-Greensboro).
Young CoSIDA Annual Raffle
The bar continues to rise for Young CoSIDA’s charity raffle as a new record amount of over $3,400 was collected Thursday night (June 13) at Kitty O’Sheas Irish Pub in Orlando. The Young CoSIDA board collected memorabilia and other donations from CoSIDA members nationwide to be raffled off. Everyone who bought a $10 raffle ticket was guaranteed a prize. Last year’s raffle brought in $2,800 for the St. Patrick Center in St. Louis.
“We're so grateful to everyone who supported our raffle, whether with donated items, a monetary donation, or coming out the night of the event. The generosity of our membership has allowed us to raise nearly $9,000 for worthy causes over the last five years, and I'm incredibly proud that in each of the last four raffles, we have raised more money than we did in the previous year,” said Jamie Baldwin, Director of Athletic Communications at Michigan State University. “We look forward to continuing our relationship with the Goodwill and Wellness committee to try to make a difference in the communities that welcome our organization.”
Baldwin, who has been heavily involved with Young CoSIDA leadership for years, was named the 2013 Bob Kenworthy Community Service Award winner and received her award at the CoSIDA Convention.
If you are interested in becoming a member of the CoSIDA Goodwill and Wellness Committee or have questions about our efforts please e-mail Sam Atkinson, chair, at sam.atkinson@gallaudet.edu.
About Coalition for the Homeless
Coalition for the Homeless of Central Florida was created in 1987 by a group of concerned citizens who noted a growing problem of homelessness in the community. Its mission is to transform the lives of homeless men, women and children by providing crucial services to end their crisis of homelessness. The Coalition is able to help over 750 people each day, including men, women and children. As one of the few emergency shelters that accept intact families in Central Florida, the organization helps a large number of families in need of shelter and support. On any given night, the Coalition provides services to over 250 children, with a current average age of eight years old. Last year, the Coalition served more than 300,000 meals.
The Coalition’s goal is to return its residents to self-sufficiency through counseling, job training and educational programs. While its clients work to reestablish productive lives, the Coalition provides transitional housing and daycare for their children until they are ready to move back into the community. More information about the Coalition for the Homeless can be found on its website – www.centralfloridahomeless.org.