BLACKSBURG – For the third consecutive year, the Virginia Tech Student-Athlete Advisory Committee – better known as SAAC – is participating in the Adopt-A-Family initiative.
For those unfamiliar with Virginia Tech SAAC, this is a leadership group consisting of student-athletes encompassing all sports at Virginia Tech. The Virginia Tech SAAC provides insight on the student-athlete experience and offers input on the rules, regulations and policies that affect student-athletes' lives. SAAC serves as a conduit of communication among student-athletes, coaches and athletic administrators in an effort to improve the student-athlete experience.
SAAC currently is teaming up with the Boys and Girls Club of Southwest Virginia and collecting donations to buy clothes, toys, etc. for about 150 children who are members of the Christiansburg Middle School or the Shawsville Middle School Boys and Girls Club chapter. The goal is to help those family members enjoy a memorable holiday season. A year ago, SAAC enlisted Virginia Tech student-athletes, coaches, administrators and the general public to help with the cause and raised more than $3,000. SAAC then used that money to purchase gifts, which members delivered to two designated families.
This year, SAAC wants to raise $4,000. The group started collecting donations Monday and plans to end its collecting Dec. 6. After completing the fundraising portion of the project, the student-athletes will be responsible for purchasing and wrapping the gifts. The project will culminate with the student-athletes visiting the Christiansburg and Shawsville Middle School Boys and Girls Club sites to deliver the gifts and interact with the kids at their annual holiday parties in early December.
Those who wish to contribute may do so through the following avenues:
• Checks made out to VT Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (and mailed to Natalie Forbes, 185 Beamer Way, Lane Stadium, Room 620, Blacksburg, VA 24061);
• Cash (which also can be sent to Natalie Forbes at the above address); or
• Venmo donations (which can be sent to @SAAC-Adopt-A-Family)
For those with more questions about the initiative, please contact Forbes (nforbes9@vt.edu) or Shelby Miller (Shelby92@vt.edu).
