October 30, 2009

Mercy College Volleyball Team Raises More Than $1,000 For Side-Out Foundation

Through raffles and donations the 2009 Mavericks fundraised $1,076 for the East Coast Conference’s Dig Pink Week.

• Side-Out Foundation
  

DOBBS FERRY, N.Y. – In October 2009, the participating schools and volleyball coaches in the East Coast Conference rallied together to raise money for the Side-Out Foundation, a volleyball association fighting for breast cancer awareness. The ECC denoted the week of October 15-25 “Dig Pink Week,” where the school’s volleyball teams would come up with different events to help fundraise for this worthy foundation.

Mercy College’s volleyball team and the Student Athlete Advisory Committee hosted its “Dig Pink” game on Tuesday, Oct. 20 against Dowling. Through a $2 door donation table, in-game raffle, team table in the cafeteria and individual pledge fundraising efforts, the Mavericks’ volleyball team was able to raise $1,076 in support of the Side-Out Foundation. In addition, Mercy College tallied 56 digs against the Golden Lions.

“The East Coast Conference is a very competitive league, especially when it comes to community service and fundraising,” said Director of Athletics Pat Kennedy. “On the courts and on the fields we are making tremendous strides with our athletic programs, but community engagement and fundraising is an area where we want to excel the most. Our goal this year is to be a leader in community engagement comparable to an all-American, all-conference level. We’ve made a solid commitment to the NCAA Division II’s community engagement efforts. With Dig Pink, our participation in Sleepy Hollow’s Haunted Hayride for Make-A-Wish, Pink Zone in February and all the other community projects we have, the Mavericks are dedicated to make a difference.”

The funds that Mercy College raised will be combined with the rest of the schools’ in the East Coast Conference and the total funds will be sent to the Side-Out Foundation from the ECC. League officials will announce the total amount raised at the ECC Volleyball Championships on Saturday, Nov. 14.

About Mercy College

Mercy College is a private, nonprofit institution founded in 1950, providing motivated students with the opportunity to earn degrees in more than 90 undergraduate and graduate programs within five schools: Business, Education, Health and Natural Science, Social and Behavioral Science, and Liberal Arts. An engaging and personalized learning experience is offered at the main campus in Dobbs Ferry, as well as campuses in the Bronx, Manhattan, Yorktown Heights and White Plains. www.mercy.edu | 877-MERCY-GO

About The Side-Out Foundation
The Side-Out Foundation (Side-Out) was established in 2004 by a group of individuals drawn together by their love of volleyball, but who also share a similar passion to be a part of the war against breast cancer. Side-Out’s mission is to raise money for the war against breast cancer through the recreational activity of volleyball.

About the ECC
Founded as the New York Collegiate Athletic Conference in 1989 and rechristened the East Coast Conference in July 2006, the ECC was formed to enhance intercollegiate athletic competition among member institutions and to assist them in integrating athletics into their academic program in a fiscally sound way. The ECC is committed to the highest standards of scholarship, sportsmanship, teamwork, and citizenship. Its mission is to promote the total person concept in its student-athletes, which stresses the abilities to excel in academic achievement, athletic competition, and positive character traits. East Coast Conference (www.eccsports.org) members for 2008-2009 include: University of Bridgeport (CT); C.W. Post Campus of Long Island University (Brookville, NY); Dowling College (Oakdale, NY); Mercy College (Dobbs Ferry, NY); Molloy College (Rockville Centre, NY); New York Institute of Technology (Old Westbury, N.Y); Queens College (Flushing, NY); and St. Thomas Aquinas College (Sparkill, NY).