Oct. 24, 2008

Members of the Siena men's basketball team will play a key role in Saturday's annual "Saints and Ghouls: Halloween Extravaganza" event at the Siena College Student Union. The event is set to run from 1-5 p.m. and the men's basketball team will make its appearance at 3:30 p.m. All proceeds from the event will benefit the Boys and Girls Club, Inc. in downtown Albany.

"Saints and Ghouls: Halloween Extravaganza" was started in the fall of 2005 by Siena College student Yalitza Negron `08. The program was initially created to assist with the Hurricane Katrina Relief Fund on campus. Since its inception, the event has attracted hundreds of children and parents from all over the Capital Region who participate in a variety of Halloween Activities such as pumpkin carving, pumpkin painting, apple pie eating contest and even tours of Old Spooks Haunted House.

The event also includes a variety of arts and crafts and activities sponsored by Siena College Clubs and Organizations, Resident Assistants, and students.

The program has been embraced by the community. It helped raise over $1,000 for the families in Hurricane Katrina in its initial year, and has continued to grow.

Over the past three years, the fundraiser has persevered with a different charity benefiting each fall. The extravaganza has helped raise money for The Start Program in Albany and the Make-A-Wish Foundation the past two years.

Through the Presidential Mission and Service VISTA Fellows Program Negron is again heading the program in its fourth year. Local sponsors include: Siena College Residential Life, Orshan's Farm and JAMZ 96.3.

The men's basketball team will visit with area children and participate in games and assorted activities.

Admission is $5 (pay at the door) and the event is open to the general public. For more information, contact Negron at: ynegron@siena.edu or 518-782-6942.

Siena's student-athletes and coaches make dozens of appearances in local classrooms and hospitals and volunteer hundreds of hours to help out in numerous organizations through the Saints in the Community program.