Baseball | December 15, 2015
Photo GalleryPHILADELPHIA - La Salle Athletics and the La Salle Student-Athlete Advisory Committee teamed up with a local organization to give back this holiday season.
Bringing Hope Home is a non-profit organization that provides "unexpected amazingness" to families affected by cancer in the greater Philadelphia area through financial and emotional support. Its Adopt-a-Family Holiday Program seemed like the perfect fit for La Salle's first-time partnership with the organization.
The Adopt-a-Family program pairs community supporters who sign up with local families that have been affected by a cancer diagnosis. La Salle SAAC was paired with the family of 4-year old Zaaheem, who has been battling Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia since his diagnosis in late June. The mission was to fundraise to purchase holiday gifts for Zaaheem and his family in their time of need.
La Salle SAAC and Athletics took on this program with high hopes to raise enough money to give the spider-man loving four year old, a very Merry Christmas. The fundraiser consisted of tables to collect donations in the Union, t-shirt sales, and selling raffle tickets for a chance to take a half-court shot to win a book scholarship.
The fundraising efforts concluded with the "Hoops for Hope" Men's Basketball game on December 5 against Drexel. Attendance was high and hearts were warm when announcements honoring Zaaheem and the meaning behind the game were made. Bringing Hope Home founder Paul Isenberg and Development Coordinator Caitlin Mahon were in attendance supporting the Explorers.
"We really liked the idea of giving back to the community but in a way that made it more personal,"
SAAC Vice President Kate Conville said "It was a great way for our athletes to come together off the field and I am blown away with our student athletes and the turnout of the fundraiser."
An unexpected and amazing total of $1,771 was raised. Spider-man themed presents, clothes, toys and winter accessories were bought for Zaaheem and his family for the holidays with the donations. A Holiday Gift Wrapping party, sponsored by Little Jimmies took place for SAAC members to wrap and organize all the presents for the family while enjoying Christmas music and treats. On Friday, December 11 a van full of presents, smiles and SAAC members headed over to Zaaheem's house to personally deliver the gifts.
Zaaheem and his mother, Fattah, were grateful and excited to watch the student-athletes lug a giant box full of gifts up to the house. The spider-man wrapped presents were eagerly torn open by little Zaaheem as the group all stood around soaking in the happiness that was radiating off the family.
Senior baseball player
James Santore presented Zaaheem with an Explorers baseball hat, welcoming him as part of the La Salle team. "It was such a good cause and it was so great giving everything to Zaaheem!" Santore said.
With a spider-man hoodie, baseball hat and toy in hand, Zaaheem's made all the students laugh and smile as they gathered around saying their goodbyes and wishing him luck as he battles cancer.
"Delivering the presents to the family was one of the best feelings to experience. We watched his face light up over the endless amount of Spider-Man gear he got. We really bonded with the family and made them members of our La Salle family," Conville added.
Zaaheem and his family were entirely thankful to have a special holiday during this tough year and can't wait for more moments with their new La Salle family.
