BRINGING DREAMS TO LIFE STUDENT ATHLETE ADVISORY COMMITTEE FUNDS MAKE-A-WISH WORDS Madison E dwards I I PHOTOS Jill Wilson During the 2017-18 school year, Harding's Student Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) raised a total of $9,500 for Make-A-Wish, a foundation that "[grants] the wish of every child diagnosed with a life-threatening medical condition," according to the charter website. The committee's fundraising ranked as No. 1 in the Great American Conference and 11th among 312 colleges and universities. Jack Thomas, senior and president of SAAC, was pleased with the athletes' performance and creativity when it came to planning and executing a variety of fundraisers. "This project was challenging and through it we came to understand what it means to embody a 'community of mission,"' Thomas said. "I'm extremely proud of our student-athletes and [hope] everyone [can] see them not just as players, but as people. They have a lot to offer this world." The organization's largest fundraiser was organized by senior eto Cacace of the men's tennis team, which was titled the "Week of Restaurants." Each day, a different restaurant in the community donated a percentage of proceeds to Make-A-Wish. Another fundraiser was a competition between the men's and women's basketball teams at Midnight Madness, an annual event for the student body to kick off the basketball season. Whichever team raised the most money got to pie the other in the face. The organization raised a considerable amount from general donations at basketball, football and softball games as well. "Make-A-Wish is the CARs primary philanthropy," Thomas said. ''As an CAA institution, we are required to raise money for Make-A-Wish. However, we were not required to take it above and beyond, and that's exactly what we did. In doing so, we will not only contribute to a great cause, but through our fundraising will grant a wish to a child in our community. The hope is that we can leave a lasting impression in our community in the name of Jesus_Christ." Sophomore Erin Young was one of the women's tennis team's representatives for SAAC. The organization's representatives acted as the bridge between the committee and the teams. It ·was her job to inform the women's tennis team of anything SAAC was doing and encourage them to get involved. "Make-A-Wish has a special place in my heart," Young said. "[Through Make-A-Wish] I [have] a love and compassion for those families that are hurting or broken because of cancer or other life-threatening illnesses." Brenda Seawel, SAAC sponsor, was an assistant athletic director for the past nine years and assisted the athletic director as needed and worked with compliance, scholarships and event ticketing. She was also the sponsor for Harding's SAAC. "I am thankful for the hearts of our student-athletes," Seawel said. "This is just one of the many areas of service involvement they participate in each year." The money SAAC raised help bring wish recipient Mason Parker who joined the women's basketball team in their warm up, pep talks and more during the Elite Eight Tournament in Columbus, Ohio, on March 20, 2017. I Student Athlete Advisory Committee member and Generation HU Directer Andi Haney stands with wish recipient Mason Parker at the Elite Eight Banquet in Columbus, Ohio, on March 20, 2017. Parker was paired with Haney and became part of the basketball team, watching warm-ups and joining the team in the locker room at half time and after the game. II Photo courtesy of Jill Wilson Cf) m ::0 < 0 m I\) 0:, .....
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