Eastern Washington University Athletics does all it can to
reach out to the community. By volunteering and giving back to
Cheney and the surrounding populations, EWU student-athletes gain
valuable leadership skills, while also providing a positive
influence on members of the community. Below is a list of various
community service efforts from the 2012-13 academic year. Lists of
community service efforts from previous years are available in the
archives section at the bottom of the page.
Athletic Department
- Many of Eastern's teams, coaches and student-athletes took part in the Special Olympics East Region Games. Athletics events (track & field) took place at Roos Field, and swimming took place at the EWU Sports and Recreation Center | Photo Gallery (May 4, 2013)
Football
- Four Eastern players represented EWU at the Goodwill Fashion
Show on April 20 in Spokane, Wash. The event was part of the annual
Spokane Women's Show. | Photo Gallery (April 20,
2013)
- Members of the EWU Football team, as well as Academic Advisor Jim Fitzgerald and Facutly Athletic Representative Dr. Laurie Morley, participated in the 2013 Polar Plunge to benefit Special Olympics Washington. Raising nearly $700, the Eagles were given the award for "Top Fundraising School" at the event. | Photo Gallery (Feb. 23, 2013)
- The EWU Athletic Department honored Spokane Valley resident Heather Comer at a men's basketball home game before she headed to the 2013 Special Olympics World Winter Games in Pyeongchang, South Korea. Comer returned from the Games in February with a gold medal! Helping recognize Comer in front of fans and supporters at Reese Court was Eastern head football coach Beau Baldwin and senior linebacker Zach Johnson, who has been an active volunteer with Special Olympics Washington. | Photo (Jan. 12, 2013)
Women's Basketball
- The Eagles helped raise funds for the Spokane Guild School as part of the organization's annual "Penny Drive" | Photo Gallery (April 27, 2013)
- Participated in a pair of community events in Cheney, including "Feed Cheney" and "Cheney Clean Sweep" | Photo Gallery (April, 2012)
- The EWU women's basketball team spent an afternoon at Cheney Care Community, where they played Bingo and visited with the residents. (Feb. 23, 2013)
- Women's basketball freshmen Miranda Mielke, Cece Pearl and Tisha Phillips, and senior Courtney Nolen helped out at "Help the Hungry Food Sort" at the 2nd Harvest Food Bank in Spokane, where they sorted and packed backpacks of produce, food drive or bulk food to distribute to the hungry in local neighborhoods. | Photo Gallery (Jan. 9, 2013)
- Participated in "Step Up for Down Syndrome" - an annual walk to raise funds for promoting awareness and education about Down Syndrome, as well as funding for research and advocacy programs for people with Down Syndrome. | Photo (Sept. 22, 2012)
Men's Basketball
- A few players and coaches from the EWU men's basketball team spent Christmas Even at the Salvation Army, helping feed the homeless in the Spokane area. Afterward, members of the team who couldn't make it home spent the night at Coach Hayford's house and enjoyed the holiday with the Hayford family. | Photo (Dec. 24, 2012)
Volleyball
- During the 2012 season, volleyball partnered with the American Childhood Cancer Society Inland Northwest to provide a special "Eagle Volleyball Experience" for children and their families who are battling cancer. During the 2012 campaign, the EWU volleyball team brought in two different kids, along with their families, to Reese Court for a home volleyball match. The Eagles provided a pizza dinner, a tour of the volleyball team room, a personalized, decorated locker for the night, as well as recognition to the crowd before the match. The “Eagle Volleyball Experience” gave these kids an opportunity to participate in all the pregame and postgame rituals of the night - becoming a real part of the Eastern volleyball team. | Photo Gallery (Nov. 17, 2012; Oct. 27, 2012)
Soccer
- A community service effort organized by All-Bg Sky Second-Team foward Cassie Black, the EWU Women's Soccer team and coaches participated in the Ronald McDonald House of Spokane Meal Program, in which the Eagles spent an evening cooking dinner for families staying at the RMH. EWU prepared a nacho bar for the children and their families, and spent the evening visiting with the residents. | Photo Gallery (March 6, 2013)
Women's Golf
- Women's Golf spent an evening at the 2nd Harvest Food Bank, helping with a "Help the Hungry Sort Night." EWU golfers helped sort almost 10,000 lbs of donated apples, which was enough to feed 3,120 people. The apples were distributed to local food banks around the Spokane area. | Photo Gallery (Nov. 29, 2012)
Cross Country/Track & Field
- Members of the EWU Track and Field team assisted at a Cheney
Middle School Meet on April 24. | Photo Gallery (April 24,
2013)
- The Men's and Women's Cross Country teams participated in the Books for Breast Cancer "Just 1 Event" this fall, which is a fundraising effort of the KSAC Foundation. Members of the team helped assemble, coordinate and promoete an event on the EWU campus, in which students were asked to donate "Just 1" of their textbooks to the organization to help raise funds for breast cancer research, as well as provide financial assistance to current breast cancer patients.
Student-Athlete Advisory Committee
The following community service activities were organized by Eastern Washington University's Student-Athlete Advisory Committee, and involve all EWU athletic teams. SAAC is a committee made up of student-athletes that aims at enhancing the total student-athlete experience by promoting opportunity, protecting student-athlete welfare and fostering a positive student-athlete image.
- To help celebrate Dr. Seuss’ birthday and the National Education Association's Read Accross America campaign, a few members of Eastern's SAAC, incluing football players Steven Forgette and Ashton Miller, and women's soccer player Brianna Brannan visited Ness Elementary School in Spokane Valley, Wash., where they spent the morning reading a few Dr. Seuss classics to the elementary children. | Photo Gallery (March 1, 2013)
- SAAC rganzied a Teddy Bear Drive on Feb. 2 prior to te men's basketball game versus Montana. Spearheaded by SAAC president Steven Forgette and vice president Ashton Miller, EWU student-athletes collected nearly 300 teddy bears, which they donated to local organizations, including Shriner's Hospital of Spokane, the Spokane Guilds' School and Neuromuscular Center and the Cheney Parks & Recreation Department. | Photo Gallery (Feb. 2, 2013)
