UPB Honored for Work with CARE

The National Association of Division III Athletics Administrators has honored the University of Pittsburgh at Bradford for its work with McKean County CARE for Children.

The Pitt-Bradford department of athletics was selected as an honorable mention award winner of the NADIIIAA/Jostens Community Service Awards for its ongoing projects during the 2007-08 academic year.

The award was presented to Lori Mazza, director of athletics and recreational sports, at the NCAA convention in Washington, D.C., earlier this month.

Pitt-Bradford’s athletic department has made available to CARE the time and expertise of its coaches and athletes as well as its facilities, making possible mini-camps and programs for children with physical and developmental disabilities.

CARE for Children provides pediatric health and therapy services, early childhood education programs, and community outreach programs for children of all abilities in McKean County and the surrounding region.

“This program started with women’s basketball, and we now have other sports joining the fun,” Mazza said. “Once our athletes play with the CARE kids, they ask to do it again. I know CARE enjoys coming out and playing with our students, but the reality is that we get so much more out of it than the children do.”

Programs put on by Pitt-Bradford have included the Lady Panthers basketball clinic, one of CARE’s most popular programs, where youngsters learn to dribble, pass and shoot, and the new CARE Kids Fitness gym and swim program. In June, community volunteers, led by Pitt-Bradford head baseball coach Bret Butler and head softball coach Tina Phillips, helped CARE children learn the fundamentals of baseball.

Athletes from men’s soccer and women’s volleyball have also participated. And in August 2007, athletic and recreational sports secretary Suzanne Dittman held an aerobics class in the dance studio followed by field hockey and swimming.

Last year the CARE for Children Board of Directors honored Pitt-Bradford with its Community CARE Award recognizing outstanding volunteer contributions to the agency.

“CARE for Children is so pleased that Pitt-Bradford is being recognized for its partnership with our organization,” said Tina Martin, CARE executive director. “We are grateful to the coaches and student-athletes who share their talents and open their hearts to our kids who have disabilities and for a university administration that supports an inclusive, compassionate culture.”

Mazza added, “This partnership has given student-athletes and staff the chance to experience a life experience that may be very different and separate from their own.”

Also at the NCAA convention, Mazza was elected to serve as an at-large member of the executive board of the National Association of Division III Athletic Administrators.

The photo, courtesy of Pitt-Bradford, shows a member of the Lady Panthers basketball team working with children from McKean County CARE for Children at a basketball clinic.