Anniversary of Lady Panters' CARE Camp

The Lady Panther Basketball Team hosted its 10th annual camp for children of all abilities on Saturday. Since its inception the Lady Panther Mini Camp has provided the opportunity for both boys and girls with motor and learning deficiencies to play ball.

In the fall of 2001, former Lady Panthers Head Coach Daly Ann Fuller approached CARE for Children about the possibility of doing an adaptive basketball camp for children with special health care needs. She liked that the camp would give the players the opportunity to step outside themselves to appreciate the ability to play college level ball, and give back to the community.

After Coach Fuller left Pitt Bradford, each subsequent coach, adopted the camp and made it their own.

“The camp gives the athletes an opportunity to spend some time with local children,” said Lady Panther Coach Molly Brennan. “This event has been going on for 10 years and I think it is important that it continues, our student- athletes need to be involved in the community.”

The first year 20 campers attended and each year the camp has grown with 45-70 children in attendance annually.

The basketball camp, part of CARE’s therapeutic recreation program, helps children learn about the game in an inclusive environment. The camp is unique because it focuses on basketball skills that campers may not have experienced because of perceived limitations. The physical and occupational therapy staff from CARE are on hand to help the Lady Panthers adapt components of the game and to work with the kids as an extension of traditional school based therapy.

The camp also became the jumping off point for several other CARE/Pitt Bradford Athletics collaborations including adaptive soccer, volleyball, and baseball. CARE also uses the Pitt Athletic Center to host Kid Fitness.

“This program started with women’s basketball, and other sports have joined the fun,” Athletic Director Lori Mazza stated. “Sometimes it is hard to get students to understand the reward they will feel, but once they 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 then the children do.”

In 2009, the Pitt-Bradford Athletics was selected as an honorable mention award winner of the NADIIIAA/Jostens Community Service Awards for its work with CARE.

The CARE Board of Directors honored Pitt Bradford and the Athletic Department in 2007 with the agency’s Community CARE Award.

The Bradford Rotary Club is also an event sponsor providing each child in attendance with a hooded sweatshirt and basketball.

CARE for Children has been providing services to children of all abilities since 1924.