LEAF RELIEF – “Leaf Belief Is To Give Relief”

About Leaf Relief

GOSHEN, Ind. – The nearly 300 Goshen College student-athletes, coaches and staff members, and volunteers have teamed together for a community service project that has been titled “Leaf Relief.”

Originally created by Maple Leaf Women’s Basketball Head Coach Steve Wiktorowski, the program is designed to unite the entire athletic department to lead an effort to serve others in the spirit of Goshen College and its core values, which include servant leadership. It will give student-athletes a chance to make a difference in tangible ways and “give back”
to the community.

The three main focuses of the project involve community service projects, raising awareness for worthy causes, and raising funds for humanitarian efforts.

While individual teams will do events specific to charities of their choice, each year the Student-Athlete Advisory Council (SAAC) chose one local organization that will be the focus of department-wide fundraising. The SAAC – comprised of athletes from each of Goshen’s 14 sports – has identified LaCasa, Inc. as the project’s primary charity.

LaCasa, Inc., founded in 1970, provides housing and other human services for the benefit of Goshen’s low-to-moderate income households. Some of their programs’s include: training, counseling, and loans for first-time home buyers, community and neighborhood building and organization projects, immigration and language services, housing partnerships and developments. For more information on LaCasa, Inc. please click here.

Scroll down for some of the ongoing and past projects and check back often as the Goshen College Athletic Department gives back through “Leaf Relief.”

The Water Project

In early December 2009, the athletics department announced the goal of raising $4500 towards the purchase of a well for a village in Kenya through the selling of ESPN The Magazine subscriptions.  The combination of the subscriptions, donations to the Maple Leaf Athletic Club, and the sale of t-shirts commemorating Errick McCollum breaking the men’s basketball all-time scoring record, allowed Goshen Athletics to reach that goal.  For information on the well, scheduled to be completed in mid-August, visit The Water Project’s page for the Kenyan well.

Haiti Earthquake Relief Game

On Saturday, Jan 16 (2010), the athletic department donated the full gate admissions from the women’s basketball game vs. Marian University as well as additional donations collected at the game toward Mennonite Central Committee’s Haiti Relief efforts.  In total, we collected and donated $444 toward Haitian relief.

Shoes For Kenya

The men’s and women’s cross country teams are collecting used running shoes for children and young adults in Kenya. Inspired by head coach Doug Yoder and Kenyan natives Sam Chege and Ramadhan Onyango, the shoes will go to those in need in Kenya, who often run barefoot rather than spend money they on footwear. Chege says it is a simple choice, “Nobody is going to run hungry and buy shoes.” Collection bins are available in the Recreation-Fitness Center on campus.  To date, 180 pairs of shoes have been collected.

Maple Leaf Indoor Marathon

For the past two years, Goshen head cross country coach Doug Yoder hosted an indoor marathon with proceeds going to LaCasa, Inc. and Haitian Relief.  The event features 204 laps on the upstairs track in the Roman Gingerich Recreation-Fitness Center. Approximately $900 was raised through entry fees and donations. Yoder goes  the extra “mile” as he completes at least a full 50K, taking donations for each lap above the marathon distance.  In two years, the event has raised more than $2,600.

Coaches vs. Cancer

Maple Leaf basketball coaches Steve Wiktorowski and Gary Chupp have joined with coaches across the country in raising awareness and funds for the American Cancer Society. Each year, one game is designated as Suit/ Sweater and Sneakers Day with coaches donning their typical formal dress on the sidelines, but sporting sneakers rather than dress shoes. Fans are encouraged to do the same as special programs across the country raise funds for the ACS. Gate receipts are donated to ACS.

Pink Outs

Both the volleyball and softball programs have hosted “Pink Out” games to bring attention to Breast Cancer by sporting pink jerseys, wristbands, and socks. They have recognized cancer survivors, brought in community service organizations, and raised funds for charities.

Toys For Tots/ Canned Food Drives

Several basketball games in the past few seasons have been designated as either food or toy drives.  Typically around the holidays (Thanksgiving and Christmas), these games have offered free admission in exchange for donations.  More than 150 pounds of food and hundreds of dollars in toys have been distributed to local charities.