SAAC Newsletter
Winter Edition
Created by: Kyle Huson
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Congratulations
On December 26, the UConn football team competed in the St. Petersburg Bowl. It brought a lot of attention to the football program
and UConn athletics.
Congratulations to SAAC representative Bobby Puyol on setting
a St. Petersburg Bowl record by kicking a career-long 52 yard field
goal! Puyol was named UConn MVP for the game.
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Fall Recap
This fall, there were many changes to SAAC. Here are some changes and first-time
events.
On December 5 at the women’s basketball game, SAAC hosted its first toy drive. The
drive benefited families who were in need of holiday items. The event was a success
thanks to the great fans and supporters. Over 500 brand new toys were collected and
donated to local communities, including Connecticut Children’s Hospital.
On December 10, athletes from many sports including men’s swimming, women’s
ice hockey, volleyball, and men’s track and cross country attended Waddell Elementary’s Winter Wonderland physical activity night. The event was to promote
the importance of exercise, teamwork, structure, as well as providing a night of fun
for students and student-athletes. Parents who were in attendance were also given
the opportunity to play with their children. It helped build relationships across the
board.
Recap:
Athletics Kick Off BBQ
Financial Workshop by Morgan Stanley
Leadership Workshop by MVP
SAAC-O’ Lantern
De-Stressor Week
Husky Reach Pep Rally, Recess, Physical Activity Night
Goal Line on Campus Events/Workshops
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January Recap
Husky Reach;
Flashlight ReadingOn January 14th, over 30 student-athletes volunteered for the Husky Reach Flashlight Reading event held at Verplanck Elementary. At this event,
student-athletes receive a unique opportunity to sit in small groups in the school’s gymnasium and read with children and their parents. What’s really
unique about this program is that the lights are off and the student-athletes and elementary students have to use a flashlight to read the book. Over
50 families showed up to this event. It was a packed gym of over 130 individuals. The student-athletes thoroughly enjoyed themselves as they stated.
Michelle, the reading specialist, was also able to inform the families on the Husky Reach program and what it entails, in addition to thanking the SBM
Charitable Foundation for funding the program.
Million Minute Reading ChallengeOn Jan. 20, 100 4th and 5th grade students from Verplanck Elementary received an opportunity to be recognized at a women’s basketball game for
achieving over 300,000 reading minutes over the course of 3 months. The principal, Nicholas Jones, received a certificate from our Senior Associate
Athletic Director/ External Relations, Neal Eskin, on the court during a time-out. In addition, the students were placed on the jumbo tron for everyone at the game to not only see them, but to applaud them for achieving their reading minutes in the fall. It was a great night for all the students and
staff that were present at the game. The kids left the game saying, “It was the best night of my life.” Because of SBMCF, the Husky Reach program is
able to impact lives and leave a lasting impression on the students. Student-athletes, during the weekly spring readings beginning Feb. 1, will continue
to encourage the students to achieve the million minute mark before the end of their school term.
Goal Line:
On Jan. 13, there were 53 volunteers from baseball and women’s track for our first Goal Line event of 2016. The student-athletes were able to go to
East Hartford Middle School and meet the students who were in the Goal Line Program. At this event, student-athletes went through a series of
icebreaker questions with over 40 middle school students. The icebreaker really allowed both the athletes and students to gain a deeper understanding
of who they are as individuals, which led to impactful life conversations. Right after the icebreakers, the students were already adapting to the athletes
they thought most impacted them during that short amount of time. The event went on by watching a “What Would You Do?” video, facilitated by
Youth Services. The video addressed issues of dishonesty, theft, and hardships in life. At the end of the video, athletes broke out into smaller discussion groups with the middle school students to discuss what happened in the video, and related it to their lives. The middle school students were then
able to share their opinions openly and what they learned from the video for all to hear. If it wasn’t for the SBM Charitable Foundation’s program, we
would not have received these unique opportunities to positively impact the lives of these youths.
On Jan. 27, our final January event ended in a blast. EHMS students were able to meet over 60 student–athletes from the football and men’s soccer
teams. The athletes were able to take the group of middle school students through a workshop on various life skills. At each workshop station, athletes
talked about a certain topic, asked questions, gave tips, and included an activity to help the children understand the message. The workshops and stations included confidence, practice makes perfect, overcoming obstacles, health, and the circle of trust. Needless to say, the students had an amazing
time and simply did not want the night to end. Men’s soccer coach, Andrew Parker, was also present at the event and believed it was an impactful and
great night. Football player Richard Levy stated it was a humbling experience and will be involved in as many Goal Line project events as possible.
Huge thanks to the SBM Charitable Foundation for funding the Goal Line Project!
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Athletics Spotlight
Winter Team Outreach Participants
Baseball
Women’s Track
Football
Men’s Tennis
Men’s Soccer
Women’s Ice Hockey
Thank you to all of our volunteers!
Women’s Leaders
Men’s Leaders
As of 1/31/16
As of 1/31/16
1. Track
1. Baseball
2. Lacrosse
2. Track
3. Ice Hockey
3. Tennis
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Upcoming Events
Husky Reach:
Weekly Readings – Every Monday - Waddell Elementary ( Depart 9am and Return 10:35am)
Weekly Readings – Every Tuesday – Verplanck Elementary (Depart 9am and Return 10:35am)
February 27th – Waddell Elementary – Million Minute Recognition – WBB (Gampel)
Goal Line:
2/17/16 –
Pink Out Game – SAAC Reps needed to volunteer and help raise funds for Cancer #play4Kay
Goal Line Mentor Evening – UCONN – 4pm -6pm
2/18/16 – Goal Line Project Mentor Evening – EHMS ( Depart 3:30pm and Return 5:15pm) * Food and Transportation provided*
2/26/16 – Goal Line Project Mentor Evening & Book Drive @ XL Center
Other Events:
2/8/16 – Resume Critique Workshop! – Must RSVP to ATTEND – Limited Spaces.
2/15/16 – Career Mentor Night – Rome Ballroom! MUST RSVP TO ATTEND.
2/20/16 – HuskyThon – For the Kids – helping to raise funds for children’s’ hospital for kids with cancer. Special
Table will be set up for Athletes in the Field House to interact with children and students! 6pm-10pm (Athletes
are encouraged to pick a time!)
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Goal Line, Husky Reach,
and SBM
What is Husky Reach?
Husky Reach is a program designed to bring UConn student-athletes into the classrooms of
elementary school children to encourage reading and promote the importance of doing well
in school. With funding from the SBM Charitable Foundation, UConn has made a strong and
continuing connection with Verplanck and Waddell elementary schools in Manchester. In the
past several years, the Husky Reach Program has implemented a million minute reading initiative, in which the schools have been challenged to complete one million minutes of reading
before the end of each academic year. This literacy program, sponsored by the SBMCF, has been
able to positively impact the lives of students in grades K-5 at the schools.
What is The Goal Line Project?
The Goal Line Project was created in 2007 through a grant from the SBM Charitable Foundation
(“SBMCF”) to connect UConn Football Student Athletes, as mentors, with at-risk East Hartford Middle School Students. Goal Line (Giving Others A Lift; Lead, Inspire, Nurture, Educate)
continues to be funded by the SBMCF and has evolved over the years, benefitting Student Athletes from all sports teams who are giving back to the community, as well as the Middle School
students who are being guided to succeed in the classroom and in life via group activities and
lessons in school and at the UConn Campus. The program is administered by the UConn Athletic Department, East Hartford Middle School Administration, and the East Hartford Youth
Task Force and Department of Youth Services, and is sponsored by the SBMCF.
Who is the SBM Charitable Foundation?
The SBM Charitable Foundation, Inc. was established in 2000 by Connecticut Bancshares, Inc.,
the parent company of the former Savings Bank of Manchester in Manchester, Connecticut.
Mission Statement
The SBM Charitable Foundation, Inc., perpetuating the vision of the former Savings Bank of
Manchester, is committed to bettering the lives of those who live and work predominantly East
of the River in Hartford, Tolland, and Windham Counties. Priorities established for the Foundation’s giving are Health, Human Services, Education, Housing, and the Arts.
To find out more about our sponsor, SBMCF, please visit http://www.sbmfoundation.org
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