Several members of the Seattle University baseball team and athletics staff volunteered Monday morning in delivering donated gifts to youth and elderly in need at several organizations through Seattle University’s annual Giving Tree project, organized by the school’s Center for Service and Community Engagement.
The volunteers delivered gifts donated by members of the Seattle University community to Childhaven, Elderhealth Northwest, the Garfield Community Center, and Treehouse. The Giving Tree project continues Seattle University’s commitment to serving the area close to campus, especially during the holiday season when there are so many people in need of something positive in their lives.
The baseball student-athletes who participated include: Mac Acker (Redmond, Wash.), Brock Carpenter (Milton, Wash.), Kyle Doyle (Covington, Wash.), Grant Gunning (Snohomish, Wash.), Cullen Hendrickson (Auburn, Wash.), and Andrew Olson (Enumclaw, Wash.).
The athletics staff members who also participated in the delivery of gifts include: Eric Guerra (Associate Athletic Director for Communications and Performance), Ken Winstead (Associate Athletic Director/Senior Fundraiser), Erin Engelhardt (Assistant Athletic Director for Student-Athlete Support), Chelsea Herman (Compliance Coordinator), Wesley Phillips (Strength and Conditioning Coordinator), and Joan Bonvicini (Head Women’s Basketball Coach).
The mission statement of the Seattle University Athletics Department is “to champion the holistic development of student-athletes inspiring a vital and engaged campus community through the development and maintenance of a premier, nationally prominent NCAA Division I athletics program, in the spirit of the Jesuit tradition.” Part of that mission in action is encouraging student-athletes and staff members to engage the greater community through meaningful service activity.