Matadors give back with 8th Day of Champions
August 14, 2012 9:48 PM
This time of year is usually filled with long, intensive labor in harsh conditions for Arizona Western athletes.
Saturday will be no different. But instead of pushing themselves to reach an athletic goal, the hard work improves the community.
AWC coaches, players and other community members will take part in the eighth annual Day of Champions on Saturday. Volunteers — last year there were 383 — will help in 35 different community service projects benefiting groups as diverse as Amberly's Place, Habitat for Humanity, Saddles of Joy and the Salvation Army.
“One of the things I like about it is it's a smaller community and you can truly see your involvement, your impact on the community when you do a programs like Day of Champions,” said Kevin Ladek of Wal-Mart Foothills..
It started as a football-only project back in 2005 but has spread not just from the old coaching staff to the new one, but from football players to all athletes to not just AWC athletes but other community members as well.
Football coach Tom Minnick said it's a good way to give back.
“I appreciate all the support of the community and the sponsors with scholarships and different things they help out with,” Minnick said. “I'm proud to be associated with this community and this school.”
Volunteers will gather at the AWC gym at 6:30 a.m. Saturday and spread out to the nearly three dozen job sites. Afterward, there's a free lunch for the volunteers provided by Outback Steakhouse. Other sponsors of the event include Wal-Mart, Southwest Gas, Sam's Club and Pepsi-Cola of Yuma.
“It's great we can get those athletes out there,” said Rick Rohrick of Southwest Gas. “It gets those athletes out there plus gives them a chance to give back. Anything we can do to help with, that we're happy to do.”
Saturday will be no different. But instead of pushing themselves to reach an athletic goal, the hard work improves the community.
AWC coaches, players and other community members will take part in the eighth annual Day of Champions on Saturday. Volunteers — last year there were 383 — will help in 35 different community service projects benefiting groups as diverse as Amberly's Place, Habitat for Humanity, Saddles of Joy and the Salvation Army.
“One of the things I like about it is it's a smaller community and you can truly see your involvement, your impact on the community when you do a programs like Day of Champions,” said Kevin Ladek of Wal-Mart Foothills..
It started as a football-only project back in 2005 but has spread not just from the old coaching staff to the new one, but from football players to all athletes to not just AWC athletes but other community members as well.
Football coach Tom Minnick said it's a good way to give back.
“I appreciate all the support of the community and the sponsors with scholarships and different things they help out with,” Minnick said. “I'm proud to be associated with this community and this school.”
Volunteers will gather at the AWC gym at 6:30 a.m. Saturday and spread out to the nearly three dozen job sites. Afterward, there's a free lunch for the volunteers provided by Outback Steakhouse. Other sponsors of the event include Wal-Mart, Southwest Gas, Sam's Club and Pepsi-Cola of Yuma.
“It's great we can get those athletes out there,” said Rick Rohrick of Southwest Gas. “It gets those athletes out there plus gives them a chance to give back. Anything we can do to help with, that we're happy to do.”
