PHOTO GALLERY
West Hartford, Conn. – The first line of the University of Hartford's Department of Athletics mission statement reads “enhance the educational and personal development of all students.” One of the best ways to do that is by giving back to the community. On Wednesday, 12 members of the Department of Athletics, including eight student-athletes, took part in a community service event at the Hole on the Wall Gang camp in Ashford, Conn. It is just one example of the many community service projects Hartford athletics provides on a regular basis.
The group participated in a spring cleanup at one of Paul Newman's signature camps. The 12 member group spent time raking leaves and providing general cleanup in preparation for Family Weekends coming up this spring. The Family Weekends introduce prospective campers and their families to the Hole in the Wall Camp so when they attend during the summer they know what to expect.
“I had a lot of fun knowing that I was doing something that benefited such an amazing camp for kids,” said Keyokah Mars-Garrick, a junior on the women's basketball team. “Knowing that I was making the appearance of their camp that much better was a rewarding feeling.”
The student-athletes who participated included Mars-Garrick and Mary Silvia from the women's basketball team, Danielle Etta and Lindsay Makowicki from the volleyball team and four members of the men's soccer team, Luke Citriniti, Matt McElroy, Francesco Bianco and Andrew Liapis. Joining the student-athletes were four administrators; Director of Athletics Pat Meiser, Associate Director of Athletics Jim Keener, Assistant Director of Marketing Ciaran Cullen and Compliance Assistant Dan Silverman.
According to their website, the Hole in the Wall Gang Camp was founded by Paul Newman in 1988 to provide a remarkable empowering camp away experience for seriously ill children. The camp, which is named for the secret, outlaw hiding-place from Newman's film Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, welcomed 288 children the first summer; twenty years later, more than 1,000 children enter the gates from June through August each year. The camp serves children aged 7 to 15 with a diagnosis of malignancy, genetic blood disorder, or HIV who reside in New England, New York and New Jersey and/or children who are medically unable to attend any other camp.
