March 29, 2007
In an effort to highlight the leadership and good works of the student-athletes in the conference, the ACC SAAC began the SAAC in ACCtion initiative to provide on-line articles about the SAAC programs at the league's 12 member institutions. The goal of this initiative is to shed light on the great things our student-athletes are doing to affect significant positive change on campus and in our communities.
Every two weeks, the SAAC leaders from a different school will provide a SAAC in ACCtion update on how their program is getting involved. When reading these articles, we hope that it is evident that their efforts to give back result in so much more.
The mission of the Wake Forest University SAAC is to serve as a liaison between the student body, faculty, athletic department and student-athletes. SAAC seeks to enhance the student-athlete experience by providing opportunities while fostering a positive student-athlete image as representatives of the University, the ACC and the NCAA. The Wake Forest University Student-Athlete Advisory Committee is made up of 34 student-athletes from each of our 14 athletic teams and cheer/dance. Four officers head SAAC and the group is divided into five committees each with two co-chairs.
The Wake Forest SAAC oversees the Athletes Care Team (ACT) which is the community service program of CHAMPS. In addition, it is responsible for putting on Athletes Supporting Athletes events to encourage support of all the Deacon varsity athletic teams, helping decide and promote various Life Skills speakers and workshops and career development programs. In addition, SAAC provides a vehicle for issues affecting student-athletes to be discussed and for possible change to be brought about. The Wake Forest SAAC has been a recognized Student Government organization since May 2003 and, as of this semester, has a member on Student Government.
The Athletes Care Team is certainly where SAAC and involved student-athletes are the most visible supporting such activities as Project Pumpkin, Santa's Helper, DESK, Eat with the DEACS, Read Across America at the local elementary schools, Special Olympics, Wake `n' Shake, Campus Kitchens, Lift up America, Habitat for Humanity and serving as speakers for numerous organizations and schools in the Winston-Salem community. In addition, numerous athletes volunteer for a semester at a time as tutors at local elementary and middle schools.
Probably the two favorite outreach activities are Eat with the Deacs and Santa's Helpers. Local recreation centers and schools are invited to bring their students to campus for a tour and to "Eat with the Deacs" which is held once a month. Up to 25 youth visit Wake and watch practice, visit the locker rooms, play games and share pizza and one-on-one time with Wake Forest student-athletes. This program has not only strengthened ties between Wake Forest and the surrounding community, but it has also allowed children to visit a college campus when they might not otherwise have the opportunity.
In its 20th year, Santa's Helper was actually started by a Wake Forest football player and is now a recognized non-profit organization. This year more than 120 student-athletes wrapped, bagged and sorted gifts for 997 underprivileged children in 263 families in Forsyth County and then delivered these gifts the next day dressed as Santa and his elves. Each child visited received two new gender and age appropriate gifts with his/her name on the wrapped present. This program is usually held the final Friday and Saturday of exams and is so popular, many student-athletes put off going home after their exams to participate.
In 2005-2006 Wake Forest student-athletes led by SAAC logged almost 1,500 volunteer hours and are on track to beat that total this year. In 2005, SAAC received the Student Government campus award for community service.
