CHICO – The Chico State Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) is a busy bunch. They’re not just athletes. They’re not even just student-athletes. They’re student-athletes who also provide a voice for their peers and service for their community. During the 2008-09 school year, Chico State SAAC helped clean up the community, collected food and gifts for those in need, donated money to the Red Cross Disaster Relief Fund and the Make-A-Wish Foundation, and earned 7,800 free minutes of cell phone use for soldiers with their Cell Phones for Soldiers campaign.
Not a bad year’s work for 25-to-30 Chico State student-athletes.
Led by 2008 Fall President Danny DiMeo and 2009 Spring President Erica Brick, the committee provided insight on the student-athlete experience, offered input on rules, regulations, and policies, and provided an outlet for student-athletes from various programs to come together and enhance the experience of being a student-athlete at Chico State.
All the while, they enhanced the lives of many others. Following is a brief rundown of the Chico State SAAC’s community engagement in 2008-09:
• Scour and Devour – SAAC members rolled up their pant legs and took a stroll in Chico Creek as they picked up garbage and debris from the part of the stream that runs through campus as part of the city-wide Scour and Devour project.
• Canned Food Drives - SAAC members collected over 400 cans of food and donated them to the Jesus Center, which provides two meals each day to the needy of Chico.
• University Needy Child Program and The Giving Tree Program – SAAC purchased gifts for three needy children during the holidays thanks to the contributions of Chico State’s student-athletes and coaching.
• Bubbles for Troubles – Throughout the year, student-athletes donated bottles of shampoo, conditioner and soap from road trips to the Jesus Center.
• Red Cross Disaster Relief Fund - The SAAC’s year-long campaign to raise money through the sale of raffle tickets to aid the Butte County Red Cross Disaster Relief Fund was a huge success. They raised $1,300, and gave away 20 $25 gift cards to Best Buy and a 32-inch plasma TV.
• Cell Phones for Soldiers – This spring the committee collected 130 used cell phones that will be donated to Cell Phones for Soldiers, an organization that recycles the phones and distributes pre-paid calling cards to soldiers serving in Iraq, Afghanistan and elsewhere overseas. This will provide 7,800 minutes of free calls for the men and women of the armed services.
• Baller’s Ball – More than 225 student-athletes and friends attended the annual student-athlete dance, which doubles as a fund-raiser. This year, $700 was donated to the Make-A-Wish Foundation.
In 2009-10, SAAC has plans to do even more under the leadership of SAAC Advisor Mitch Cox – the University’s Assistant Athletic Director – and SAAC President Hannah Dillard and Vice President Rebecca Johnson.
To learn more about SAAC click here.