Dec. 3, 2004

BETHLEHEM, Pa. - Lehigh student athletes took the opportunity to give back to the community Thursday evening as the Lehigh C.O.A.C.H. (Community Outreach by Athletes who Care about Helping) program directed its annual Adopt-A-Family event. For this program, each athletic team at Lehigh adopted an underprivileged family to help share in the holiday season.

Over the course of the semester, the student-athletes from each team raised money in order to buy gifts for their families. Thursday night, each team made their presentation to their adopted family.

The teams met with their families, as children were allowed to open some presents on the spot. Santa Claus was on hand to spread holiday cheer and food and drinks were provided to make the evening special for all parties involved.

"It's really special," said sophomore Sara Ellis, a member of the women's basketball team. "We work hard to raise the money and do the shopping and when you see the families' reactions it's wonderful."

Junior Andrew Smith is a co-chair of the C.O.A.C.H. program. He believed that simply being involved in the program is a reward in itself. "It's a real special event when you give a mother a gift and she has a tear in her eye," Smith said.

The Adopt-A-Family program is now in its sixth year. This year Lehigh student-athletes raised over 25 thousand dollars to be spent on gifts for all the families.

"To see the smiles on their faces when they get the gifts, its great," said sophomore Daniela Molina of the women's soccer team. Her teammate, sophomore Tara Stottlemyer enjoyed the experience not only because it helped families in need, but because it bolstered team chemistry.

"We wrapped all the gifts together and it was cool because we had some good team bonding," Stottlemyer said.

By participating in community outreach programs many Lehigh student-athletes are doing their best to make a difference in the community around them.