North Carolina State University Athletics
Program Spotlight: Champs in Community
9/9/2009 12:00:00 AM | Football
BY RYAN BECK
RALEIGH, N.C. – While NC State looks to win on the field, it is the success off the field that really counts. From raising money for charitable foundations, to helping rebuild communities, to visiting the sick in hospitals, NC State football players do their best to make the world a better place.
“Community service means giving back and being a part of the community, which we are,” head coach Tom O’Brien said. “There are a lot of things we can do to help in this community. Certainly a lot of people look up to these kids. It is a chance to give back and we are happy to do it any way we can.”
Never was this more evident than this spring during the inaugural Kay Yow Spring Football Game. The Wolfpack nation was out in full force with a record 21,075 fans, not only showing their interest in the football team, but their love for the late women’s basketball coach. Pink was everywhere, from hats and shirts worn by the coaches, to pink tape around the players’ ankles and wrists.
Coach O’Brien had asked every adult in attendance to donate at least one dollar. At the end of the day nearly $30,000 was raised, an amazing feat in these challenging economic times. The money was split between the Kay Yow/WBCA Cancer Fund and the Wolfpack Club’s Kay Yow Memorial Scholarship Fund.
“How about this crowd today?” O’Brien said after the game. “What a great show of support for Kay Yow. This is spectacular. It speaks to the Wolfpack nation and what great people they are.”
When most students think spring break, they think vacation and having a good time with their friends or family. This past spring, instead of the usual relaxation, some members of the football team decided to use this time to serve the community.
Three student-athletes joined four football graduate students and staff members on a trip to Gulfport, Miss., one of the areas hardest hit by Hurricane Katrina in 2005. The contingent spent the week helping rebuild the infrastructure through Project Hope and Compassion, a service project hosted by St. Ann’s Catholic Church in Lizana, Miss.
Director of football operations Kit Hughes helped organize the trip. “Not a lot of people have moved back to the area after being displaced by the hurricane,” Hughes said. “So, for even the most basic things, they need volunteers to come in and help do a number of projects.”
The group all rolled up their sleeves and worked to help the citizens of Gulfport. Some of the projects involved clearing out vegetation in front of houses and building a new playground for a local school.
“Our focus was to go down there and help those who needed help from the hurricanes that went through there,” said center Wayne Crawford. “We were actually really shocked at how much damage was still left and how much work still needed to be done. We were just happy to go down there and help be part of the process for people getting back to their regular lives.”
While Crawford and the others could have gone home and relaxed, the idea of helping someone else was just too much to pass up. “The biggest thing was the community was really appreciative,” Crawford said. “It was a blessing for us to be down there. I plan on doing it again next year. It was a great experience.”
Crawford wants to see the Alternative Spring Break Project expand. “This was the first alternative spring break for NC State. We are trying to turn it into a yearly thing, not only NC State, but the ACC and eventually nationally. Every school should have some type of alternative spring break.”
Players and coaches have also frequently visited hospitals, including the wounded at military bases. Being a Marine himself, O’Brien encourages his players to show their support for our country’s military. While the players can provide inspiration to the military, it is usually the other way around. “It puts everything we do in perspective,” said quarterback Russell Wilson.
In addition, the Wolfpack has volunteered at the Raleigh Rescue Mission, which offers both a long-term recovery program and emergency shelter for men, women and children. The coaching staff and players have served food to the residents in the past.
One program that O’Brien brought to NC State was the U.S. Marine Corps’ Toys for Tots. In a season long promotion, Coca-Cola donated $500 for every touchdown the Wolfpack scored. The 34 touchdowns scored last season helped raise $17,000 in donations.
Eight players, along with assistant coach Mike Reed, went shopping at a local Wal-Mart in December for the second straight year to help spend the money that was raised. One player that took part in the shopping spree was defensive tackle Alan-Michael Cash. “This is a great chance for me to give back to the community, as coach O'Brien says all the time,” Cash said. “I just thought it would be a fun thing to do, to give them some support.”
In all, the players bought a total of $4,685 in toys and gifts for the program, with local representatives from Coke on hand to pay for everything. The rest of the money raised went directly to the 10-county Triangle region to provide toys for kids who weren’t expected to receive anything for the holidays.
“This by far is the biggest thing we do in our region,” said Marine 1st Sgt. David Crafton, program coordinator for the region. “It raises the most money and gets the most toys of anything we do. It makes me feel great along with the Marines here to see collegiate athletes care about something like this and giving back to the community.”
During NC State’s win over Wake Forest last November, Coca-Cola gave another $3,500 for an on-field promotion. Additionally, Wolfpack fans also helped out by giving more than $17,000 in donations and bringing an extra 3,000 toys for the campaign at the Wake Forest game. This past year’s fundraising efforts more than doubled the amount brought in the inaugural year of the program.
“That is special to me because I’m on the board and really involved with the Toys-for-Tots,” O’Brien said. “I think we have done a great job here, and within the state. It’s a win-win situation for us.”
Coach O’Brien preaches to be a champion in the classroom, in the community and on the football field. This year the entire Wolfpack nation has followed his lead to make the world a better place. From the student-athletes to coaches and fans, all have participated in doing the little things to make a difference in our community.
