CoSIDA Continues to Give Back
by Chris Mitchell, 2015-16 Chair of CoSIDA Goodwill and Wellness Committee and Sports Information Director at Washington University in St. Louis
ORLANDO, FL – CoSIDA continued its tradition of giving back during the 2015 Convention, held June 14-17, at the Orlando World Center Marriott. Sports Information Directors (SIDs), from across the United States and Canada, participated in community service, fundraising and physical fitness during the four-day convention.
The CoSIDA Goodwill and Wellness committee organized three events (CoSIDA/NACDA and Affiliates 5K Fun Run/Walk, Donation Drive and Community Service Project) during the convention that directly benefitted the Coalition for the Homeless of Central Florida, the largest provider of homeless services in the area.
The CoSIDA membership stepped up big once again in 2015 with donations that totaled over $7,165 through the CoSIDA/NACDA and Affiliates 5K Fun Run/Walk registration and Young CoSIDA (YC) Charity Social raffle.
CoSIDA/NACDA and Affiliates 5K Fun Run/Walk
The Fifth Annual CoSIDA 5K Fun Run/Walk was held Tuesday, June 16, at 6 a.m., on the Hawk’s Landing Golf Club on the grounds of the Orlando World Center Marriott. This was the second year CoSIDA and NACDA and Affiliates sponsored this event, which was open to all convention attendees, along with family and friends.
The a record race of 153 participants helped to raise $1,565, which was donated to the Coalition for the Homeless of Central Florida, the largest provider of homeless services in the area.
Quick facts from the 5K:
- Record turnout of 153 participants (87 CoSIDA, 52, NACDA, 14 unattached)
- 91 males, 62 females
- 90 pre-registered and 63 walk-up
- 35 different states represented along with the District of Columbia & Canada
- California and Ohio leading the way with 12 participants, while Minnesota and Missouri had eight each
- Notable runners in the race include Kansas State AD John Currie, and former San Francisco 49er kicker Jeff Chandler, who was a vendor for Fanatics
The Goodwill and Wellness committee members conducted pre-registration on Sunday afternoon and had an on-site registration Tuesday morning prior to the start of the race. Entry fees were $10 per individual and $20 per family.
For the third-straight year a new champion was crowned on the men’s side as Matthew Pohren of Hartwick College paced the field with a winning time of 17 minutes, 33 seconds. Annie Martin of the University of Oklahoma repeated as champion on the women’s side with a time of 20:46. Joe Carmany of Liberty University was the top walker, for a third time in the event’s history, with a time of 33 minutes flat.
TOP 5 MEN
- Matthew Pohren – Hartwick – 17:33
- Jeremy Rosenthal – Indiana – 18:27
- Steven Schoon – South Florida – 19:14
- Drew Morris – Missouri Baptist – 19:57
- Mark Hankins – Iowa – 20:35
TOP 5 WOMEN
- Annie Martin – Oklahoma – 20:46
- Maura Vizza – Moraine Valley Community College – 25:43
- Michael Boele – UC Riverside – 25:45
- Jade Prickett – Boston College – 26:32
- Jordi Gerkings – Macalester – 26:34
TOP WALKER
- Joe Carmany – Liberty – 33:00
All participants received an official CoSIDA/NACDA and Affiliates 5K Fun Run/Walk T-shirt provided by CoSIDA corporate partner Proforma Collegiate Solutions. Prizes were awarded to the top five males, top five females and top walker.
CoSIDA Community Service Project
For the third-straight year, the CoSIDA Goodwill and Wellness Committee served the residents at the Coalition for the Homeless of Central Florida as part of its annual community outreach project. This is the sixth community service project organized and coordinated by the Goodwill and Wellness Committee in the past seven years (San Antonio '09, San Francisco '10, St. Louis '12, Orlando, '13, '14, '15).
This year CoSIDA’s Goodwill and Wellness committee partnered with Samaritan’s Feet, a humanitarian aid organization that shares a message of hope and love through washing the feet of impoverished children around the world, to pass out 250 new pairs of shoes to residents of the Coalition for the Homeless of Central Florida.
“It was a really moving community service project,” said 2014-15 CoSIDA Goodwill and Wellness Committee Chair Sam Atkinson and Assistant Athletic Director for Communications at Gallaudet University. “We were so fortunate to work with Samaritan’s Feet and the great residents at the Coalition for the Homeless. It means so much for us as an organization to get out into the community and meet people that need help.”
A total of 34 SIDs and five individuals from Full Sail University participated in this year’s service project on Tuesday, June 16, at the Coalition’s main campus in downtown Orlando. CoSIDA volunteers washed the feet of the residents and supplied them with new socks and shoes. Most importantly, the volunteers spent time getting to know the residents and talk to them about their dreams and goals and provide them encouragement, a hug or handshake and a smile.
“Getting away from our jobs and training sessions and having a chance to give back to those in need is a truly humbling experience,” said Brian Lovellette, St. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SLIAC) SID and Goodwill and Wellness Committee member. “In our jobs we are the ones that write the stories telling how our schools and student-athletes are making a difference in the community. But this day we were able to join in and contribute to the difference being made.”
Following the service project, Muffett Robinson, Director of Community and Media Release, and Kristen Pena, Director of Community Engagement, for the Coalition for the Homeless, debriefed the volunteers and answered questions about the organization and services it provides. Phil Campbell, Director of Operations, and Kevin Warren, Director of Marketing and Sports Engagement, from Samaritan’s Feet directed the CoSIDA Volunteers during the event and spent time discussing how SIDs can get involved with Samaritan’s Feet on their own campuses.
Video recap: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bT25PN4-s44
Young CoSIDA Charity Social
Young CoSIDA capped the day by holding the #YCCharitySocial at the Sea Dog Brewing Company on Tuesday night in Orlando. A total of $5,600 was raised during a silent and live auction that was held during the event. The interactive auction featured autographed balls, jersey and helmets signed by legendary college and pro coaches and players, as well as other sports memorabilia.
In the past three years, Young CoSIDA has raised over $13,000, which was donated to the Coalition for Homeless of Central Florida.
Donation Drive
For the sixth straight year the Goodwill and Wellness committee collected donations for its local charity. This year over 200 items (toiletries, clothing, shoes, Virginia Ham) were donated to the Coalition for the Homeless. Over 1,700 items have been donated to local charities in six years.
Sam Goldman Cap and T-Shirt exchange
CoSIDA brought back the Cap and T-Shirt Exchange, named in honor of the late Sam Goldman a CoSIDA Hall of Famer and long-time West Coast sports information icon. A total of 48 items – 34 shirts and 14 caps – were collected and traded.
The CoSIDA Goodwill and Wellness Committee is already busy planning for the 2016 Convention in Dallas. If you are interested in becoming a member of the CoSIDA Goodwill and Wellness Committee or have questions about our efforts please e-mail Chris Mitchell, the committee’s chair, at
mitchell@wustl.edu.
About Samaritan’s Feet
Samaritan's Feet International is AN organization that shares a message of hope and love through washing the feet of impoverished children around the world and adorning them with new shoes. In 2013 and 2014, Samaritan’s feet gave away over 1,540,000 pair of shoes around the world.
More information on Samaritan’s feet or to get your campus involved can be found on its website -
http://www.samaritansfeet.org.
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’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.