This article appeared in the Winter 2023 Edition of Curry Magazine.
Curry College student-athletes are frequently lauded with accolades for their on-field performances—from conference Player of the Week awards to All-Conference recognitions. While much of the glory of being a student-athlete comes on game days, what sets Curry’s 400+ athletes apart is what they do for others away from the field, court, trail, and ice.
Curry Athletics takes part in dozens of community service events each semester, ranging from volunteering at charity road races to drafting children with serious illnesses and disabilities to their teams through Team IMPACT. Last year alone, they were involved in over 50 outreach events.
One of Curry’s signature events is the men’s ice hockey team’s Teddy Bear Toss, which celebrates its eighth anniversary this 2022-23 season. Last winter, hundreds of teddy bears were thrown onto the ice after Curry’s first goal of the game, and roughly $600 was raised for the non-profit organization “Christmas in the City.”
"The teddy bear toss is one of the most fun and rewarding events of the year for us,” said men’s ice hockey forward George Vonakis ‘24. “Not only is the game highly anticipated by us and our fans, but the meaning behind the event reminds everyone of what's important around the holidays, and that is giving back to the community and those who are less fortunate. We're very proud to be a part of an event that brings joy to the fans during the game, but most importantly brings joy to children in the area."
The women’s soccer team hosted its annual Pink Game last season to benefit the Boston chapter of Making Strides Against Breast Cancer and the family of former defender Sydney Dewhurst. The Colonels wore pink shirts in their pregame warmups and sold shirts and bracelets with all proceeds going to Making Strides.
“As a team, we were able to honor Sydney, whose mother had a lengthy battle with breast cancer,” said McKenna Reid ‘23. “Our team is a tight-knit family, and we were proud to show our fight on the field to show our support and raise awareness for breast cancer.”
Curry men’s soccer donated used gear to Peace Passers in 2021. The team has worked with the non-profit organization for several years to donate used jerseys, shorts, and socks to communities worldwide that have limited access to proper gear. This year, the Colonels’ donation went to a youth team in Fond-Parisienne, Haiti.
“Sharing the love of the game with others who are not as fortunate is a special thing,” said men’s soccer student-athlete Ean McGonigle ‘24. “Something as simple as kicking a ball brings joy and providing others with that equipment helps us feel like we are doing our part.”
The men’s and women’s tennis teams at Curry have long teamed up with Tenacity, a non-profit organization that works to enrich after-school, in-school, and summer programs for Boston youth, focusing primarily on tennis and fitness activities. The teams recently came together to host a free clinic through Tenacity.
“Working at Tenacity gives us the opportunity not only to share the sport that we love, but to be role models to young kids,” said women’s tennis captain Sophia Wiernusz ‘23. “We often talk to the kids about college and how they can one day be college student-athletes.”
Several Curry’s teams have had local children join their programs through Team IMPACT, an organization that “matches children facing serious illness and disability with college sports teams, creating a long-term, life-changing experience for everyone involved.” The men’s ice hockey, men’s basketball, and baseball teams all drafted Team IMPACT players to their teams during this fall semester, while a handful of other teams already have players on their roster.
Curry has worked with Team IMPACT for the past 10 years, matching 16 children across its baseball, men’s and women’s basketball, football, men’s ice hockey, women’s lacrosse, men’s and women’s soccer, softball, and women’s volleyball teams.
“Community service is such a vital part of the Curry Athletics student-athlete experience,” said Director of Athletics Vinnie Eruzione. “Our most important goal in athletics is to graduate well-rounded young men and women, and that extends far beyond the playing field. The ability to give back to the community and to children less fortunate than us is extremely important. Not only do these opportunities make a difference in these children’s lives but they also make a huge impact on our student-athletes lives as well.”
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