This talented football team that boasts 19 returning starters is hungry—for success, a conference championship, and a trip to the Division III playoffs.
And in an effort to let you know exactly how hungry they are, the Little Giants are dedicating this season to hunger awareness in our community.
That's why when the more than 100 members of the Wabash football team return to campus on August 20, they will dedicate time, talent, and treasure to wiping out hunger in Montgomery County. To do so, the Little Giants will partner with the FISH Foundation and at least three local elementary schools on a series of fund-raising initiatives and canned food drives to benefit hungry people in our community.
Think hunger is not an issue around here? Think again.
According to the latest FISH statistics, the Foundation served 1,564 families and 4,692 people in 2001.
When they return for training camp, Little Giant players and coaches will kick off a program they're calling "Turnover Hunger." Each player and coach will pledge one dollar for every turnover the Little Giants force in 2002. The goal for the season is three turnovers per game and 30 for the season; that translates into well over $3,000 in pledges to FISH.
Assistant Coach Brian Ward is coordinating the effort, and says that the team would like local businesses, service clubs, and philanthropic organizations to partner with the team to beat hunger in our own back yard. He'll gladly accept donations of any level to add to the team's commitment. What he'd really like is for individuals and families to match the pledges of the Wabash players.
"We're doing this to raise community awareness about the level of hunger in our community," says Ward, now entering his second year on the coaching staff. "We really feel that it's important to provide an opportunity for our players to have a role in alleviating the problem of children and families going to bed hungry in Montgomery County."
The second aspect of the season-long effort is a series of "Hunger Runs." Members of the team will work with local elementary schools on three week-long neighborhood canned food drives. Students from Nicholson, Hose, and Hoover schools will collect non-perishable food items Monday through Friday. Then at lunchtime on Friday, the Little Giants will conduct the "Hunger Runs" where they'll literally run to the schools to meet the students, sign autographs, and collect the food.
Nicholson students kick things off the week of September 9-13, followed by Hose the week of October 14-18, and wrapping up with Hoover the week of October 28 through November 1.
Other schools, scout troops, and organizations are welcome to participate as well. Contact Coach Ward at 361-6287 for more information.
To top it all off, admission to home games on September 14 (Community Day) and October 19 (Youth Football Day) will be free; the team simply asks that all fans bring a food donation to the game. Members of the Sphinx Club will be on hand at every game to collect donations.
Make no mistake, Head Coach Chris Creighton will field one of the elite teams in the nation this fall. The players will push themselves harder than they can even imagine at this point, all with a goal of going undefeated and making the playoffs. But what makes this team different is its commitment to the community in which they live.
Indeed, this team is hungry for success. They also want to do their part —and ask you to do the same—to stamp out hunger in Montgomery County. So let's get behind this team from the very start of the season and help the Little Giants achieve both of their aggressive goals.