Campus Recreation Updates

Dan Nuzzo earns MVP in Hoops for Humanity Tourny

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Gopher Balls win Hoops for Humanity

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Hoops for Humanity raises $380 for G4G!

One of our department’s initiatives is to raise money for and awareness of certain charitable organizations. One that we hold near and dear to our hearts is the Go4Goal Foundation (G4G). Each year we hold our annual Hoops for Humanity in honor of G4G.  We more than doubled last year’s total raising $380.00 for such an amazing cause. 

 The Gopher Balls captured the championship trophy this year by going undefeated throughout the double elimination 3 on 3 basketball tournament.  The team consisted of tournament MVP Dan Nuzzo (5^th Year Pharm D), Mike Larkin (5^th Year Pharm D), Matt Pulcini (5^th Year Pharm D) and Sean Whalen (5^th Year Pharm D).      

Volunteers

Melissa Jankoviak, Daphne Torre, Robert Shay, Ben Edwards, Melissa Fontana, Loren Martinez, Kristina Riley, Mia Hopkins, Riddhi Patel

 Participants

Scott Coleman, Eddie Yu, Vinay Daryani, Maryur Dafatari, Tang Vu, Jibu Idicula, Ray Powers, Justin Harris, Chris Dohler, Scott Cahayla, Rob Pfleging, Jordan Ahn, Markeith Patterson, Dan Boulos, RJ Murray, Ian Byerly, Matt Garin, Tony Vanetsse, Matt Pulcini, Mike Larkin, Dan Nuzzo, Sean Whalen, Jordan Elting, Matt Williard and Alex Myhaylyhenko

 To learn more and find out how you can get involved with G4G go to http://go4thegoal.org/

 Thank you and have an awesome week!

SRC and Campus Recreation makes a difference tutoring at K.I.P.P.

Over the course of the past year students from the Student Recreational Committee and Campus Recreation decided to step up and make a difference in the community. More important, they wanted to make a lasting impact not just a one day volunteering event.

After hours of deliberating they decided to implement a tutoring program. Through various contacts they were able to build a relationship with K.I.P.P. West Philadelphia. On a weekly basis 6 students traveled to 60th and Baltimore to tutor inner city 5th graders. This program was such a huge success that they have decided to make this program an annual community service project.

Below are a few testimonials from students who participated in this very special program.

"The children at KIPP are from low income families and they have not had an easy childhood, so I think this experience is beneficial to both the children and me. What I like most from this experience is how eager the children are to learn and how happy they are to be at this school. When I was their age, this was defiantly not the case. This has showed me to appreciate everything you have because there are people that are not as fortunate. This experience is also teaching me responsibility for another person. Some of the children do not have a steady mentor in their lives and being able to dedicate a few hours a week constantly goes a long way." Mayur Daftari - 4th Year

"I decided to tutor at KIPP because I have been looking for a volunteering opportunity that I feel strongly enough about that will keep me motivated enough to go every week. I enjoy working with children and think that every kid has the ability to rise to their fullest capability if they have the opportunity and motivation to do so with positive people in their lives to help them get there. KIPP is an excellent program that is really helping to mold these kid's future in a very positive way. These kids at KIPP are so motivated and are so enthusiastic to learn that going there every week is very enlightening and refreshing to see. I absolutely love going to KIPP every week and the experience is definitely worthwhile. It is very rewarding to tutor these kids and how they look forward to our visits weekly. I am learning from a lot from this experience." Riddhi Patel - 6th Yr

"Ever since starting the Student Recreational Committee at USP, raising money for charity has always been a goal of ours. When Marc mentioned that KIPP is a school that gives kids a chance to receive a good education, I figured they were the perfect fit to receive these donations. When given the opportunity to actually have some face to face time with these kids, I was ecstatic. It is important that as a child is growing up, that he or she is surrounded by positive things that can aid to the development of a hard working, honest adult. I have always wanted to be part of a Big Brother program, so this seemed right up the same alley. So far, the experience has exceeded expectations. I honestly feel that coming once a week has already made an impact on my student’s life. The importance of these tutoring visits doesn’t come from teaching the students how to multiply or spell certain words the right way. The importance comes from helping them develop their learning skills and to teach them the real meaning behind working hard. The KIPP program is a great opportunity for these students, whether they fully understand that or not" Jack Korbutov - 6th Yr

Charity Corner

SRC raises $240 for ALS written by Jack Korbutov, 5^th Yr Pharm D

The ALS Walk in Philadelphia was a fun and interesting event. Gathering some of the members of the Student Recreational Committee to do the walk was a rewarding experience and it felt good to donate time and money for a better cause. The members that went were Rob Pfleging, Nicole Payette, Dani Paci, Becky Burris, and me. We donated $240 to find a cure for ALS. As the President of SRC, I feel like it is important to give back to the community as much as we can. The ALS walk was a perfect opportunity to give back, and I look forward to having SRC participate in more community events in the future.

Department of Campus Recreation donates $160 to Goal4theGoal Foundation

The Department of Campus Recreation held its annual Hoops for Humanity 3 on 3 Basketball Tournament on 11/18/09.  This year we decided to raise money for Goal4theGoal Foundation. Go4theGoal Foundation is a not-for-profit corporation that was formed in 2006 by Dr. Richard & Beth Stefanacci when their oldest son Richard (13) was diagnosed with Ewing’s Sarcoma, a form of bone cancer. It became evident very early on in Richard’s treatment that many other children suffering from childhood cancer do not have the emotional, financial and logistical support that they are fortunate enough to have for Richard.  With the outpouring of support from family, friends, and neighbors far outstripping their needs, Richard & Beth did what came naturally to them which was to bring together the surplus of resources with the great need to improve the lives of children and their families affected with cancer. Go4theGoal Foundation is a public charity whose funds will be used to provide supportive services to children with cancer and their families with the goal to provide a sense of “normalcy” in their lives while they “Go4theGoal” of being healthy again soon.

This year’s tournament raised $160 for Go4theGoal Foundation.  Team Mature Shooters led by tournament MVP Scott Cahayla, 4^th Yr Pharm D, defeated 4622 to win the double elimination tournament.  Team Mature Shooters consisted of Scott, Scott Coleman (4^th Yr Pre Med) and Rob Pfleging (2^nd Yr Pharm D).  The Department of Campus Recreation would like to thank everyone who participated in the tournament and donated to this worthy cause.  A special thanks to Robert Shay, Assistant Men’s Basketball Coach, who volunteered his time to officiate the tournament.