Saints in the Community
Another year of Siena athletics means another year of Siena athletics in the community.
One of the main objectives of the Siena athletic department has always been reman actively involved in the Capital Region community. In the past five years, Siena student-athletes have made countless appearances in local classrooms and hospitals, and the department has donated over to $10,000 in game tickets, sports camps scholarships, and sporting apparel to area charities.
For over 20 years, the Siena College men's basketball team has led the way in this initiative, remaining actively involved off the court, while bringing some of the most exciting and memorable sporting events to the Albany area.
"Siena's community involvement programs give our department an opportunity to get out and give something back to the people who have helped make Siena athletics so special," Director of Athletics, John D'Argenio said. "I believe that our athletes has the capability to serve as admirable role models to school children as well, and I know they look forward to interacting with our young fans through our various outreach programs."
In addition to the many functions Siena's athletes attend, the coaching staffs committ their share of time as well. Over the course of a year, the basketball coaching staffs alone receive hundreds of requests annually to attend various charity and benefit events.
Siena's desire to get out into the community doesn't stop in the tri-city area. As part of the conference's "MAAC Gives Back" program, the Saints basketball teams visited the Roswell Park Cancer Institute pediatric unit during the 1997 Marine Midland MAAC Basketball Tournament and had the opportunity to speak at Winchester Elementary School in West Seneca, N.Y. as part of the program last year.
In its seventh year, the "MAAC Gives Back" program involves conference teams visiting local schools and hospitals and involve the children exchanging correspondence with many of the players and coaches from the participating teams. The also follow the progress of the teams through articles in the newspapers and from materials sent by the MAAC schools. This year, the program will take place in both Albany and Buffalo. The program has been such a success that it has become an integral part of other MAAC Championships, including baseball and softball.
