FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Courtesy of Simmons Athletics Communications
BOSTON, Mass. – Approximately 25 Simmons College student-athletes volunteered as representatives of the school and the Special Olympics of Massachusetts (SOMA) at a recent Boston Bruins game to help raise money for the Boston Bruins Foundation.
The Simmons contingent sold 50/50 raffle tickets at the Bruins' game vs. the Arizona Coyotes on February 28 at TD Garden in Boston and helped to raise $23,000 with their effort.
"They (Simmons student-athletes) did a great job," said Special Olympics Massachusetts Vice President of Philanthropy, Nick Savarese. "Their enthusiasm and professionalism helped the Boston Bruins Foundation generate one of its highest fund raising totals of the year. We are grateful for the leadership shown by Simmons student-athletes."
Half of the money raised will go directly to SOMA to help fund their year-round sports program for athletes with intellectual disabilities.
Junior women's soccer player Victoria Russo (Braintree, Mass.) led the effort for Simmons and its Student Athletic Advisory Council (SAAC).
"As a whole, we’re [SAAC] really passionate about SOMA and it’s good for us to work with the community," said Russo. "It was a really rewarding experience for us and we enjoy maintaining the relati
onship that we've built with them (SOMA) over the years. It makes us feel really good to know that we’re putting in all this hard work that’s going to benefit a lot of the Special Olympics athletes. I know they really appreciate it too and it gives them a lot of opportunities."
In all, members from eight different Simmons interollegiate athletics teams participated, including junior Tasha Friedman (Phoenix, Ariz.), first years Alyssa Marceau (North Adams, Mass.), Jessie Pratt (Westfield, Mass.), Juliet Nelson (Cumberland, R.I.), juniors Rachel Corning (Ipswich, Mass.), Briana Hayes (Manorville, N.Y.), Amber Verrill (Windham, Maine), first year Liz Donovan (Nashua, N.H.), juniors Becca Kemp (Mansfield, Mass.), Meg Cokely (Haverhill, Mass.), sophomores Liz Brasa (East Hartford, Conn.), Jamie Zoldy (Watertown, Conn.), first year Susan Wilson (Winchester, Mass.), sophomore Brianna Rastello (Salem, N.H.), first year Erin Montambault (Watertown, Conn.), first year Kali DeNisi (Killingworth, Conn.), junior Hillary Matthews (Colchester, Vt.), sophomore Ashley McAdams (Freeport, N.Y.), sophomore Jordan Mattheisen (Seattle, Wash.), junior Issy Verrilli (Naugatuck, Conn.), sophomore Kelsey Heavener (Stafford Springs, Conn.) and Ava Dubovy.