COMPLETE NCAA RELEASE
INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. – The University of New Haven Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) surpassed its fundraising goal for Make-A-Wish® by more than $3,450 last year and for the third time in the last four years has been presented an opportunity to help grant a wish as announced by the NCAA National Office on Tuesday.
New Haven was honored with the Northeast-10's Make-A-Wish® Award as the highest earning institution in the league. The award, which was presented at the conference's annual meetings in June was the fifth time in the last six years the Chargers have earned the distinction.
SAAC raised its record-setting sum of $5,360 in 2018-19 through numerous events and fundraisers. The flagship fundraiser took place at the final three home football games where SAAC sold hot chocolate that was donated by the University's food service provider Sodexo. Combined, SAAC raised over $1,850 at those three games, including more than $800 when the Chargers hosted Slippery Rock in the NCAA Championship Second Round on November 24.
Other fundraising events included the annual West Haven Pizza Challenge, a Chipotle fundraiser, Dollar Donation Day, the annual Charger Ball and raffling off prize baskets at the 2019 Hall of Fame ceremony. SAAC also held various raffles and collections at home games and other special events throughout the year.
Previously, the Chargers have had an opportunity to assist in revealing two wishes in conjunction with the Connecticut chapter of Make-A-Wish®, presenting Connor from Darien, Conn. with his true wish of a Mediterranean Cruise in April 2015 and Joseph from Waterbury, Conn. with his wish of a cruise to the Bahamas this past April.
The NCAA's alliance with Make-A-Wish® began in 2003 and since then has raised more than $6.2 million. That money has been used to grant wishes to more than 740 kids across the country with life-threatening medical conditions. According to a 2011 Wish Impact Study, the wishes can impact children's fights against their illnesses, helping them feel better and, in some cases, get better.
The University of New Haven Department of Athletics is dedicated to serving its campus, local, national and global communities. In concert with the NCAA Division II initiative of service as one of the six key attributes that summarize the Division II student-athlete experience, all Charger athletic programs perform community service throughout the academic year.
About Make-A-Wish:
Make-A-Wish grants the wishes of children with life-threatening medical conditions to enrich the human experience with hope, strength and joy. According to a 2011 U.S. study of wish impact, most health professionals surveyed believe a wish-come-true has positive impacts on the health of children. Kids say wishes give them renewed strength to fight their illness, and their parents say these experiences help strengthen the entire family. Headquartered in Phoenix, Make-A-Wish is one of the world's leading children's charities, serving children in every community in the United States and its territories. With the help of generous donors and more than 27,000 volunteers, Make-A-Wish grants a wish somewhere in the country every 37 minutes. It has granted more than 254,000 wishes since its inception in 1980; more than 14,200 in 2014 alone. The Connecticut chapter has granted over 2,500 wishes since its inception in 1986. Visit Make-A-Wish Connecticut at ct.wish.org to learn more.
