The University of Michigan Rugby Football Club continued it’s tradition of community service this past semester which was highlighted by joining the Michigan From the Heart program. This program brings a variety of athletes from around campus together to make visits to Mott’s Children’s Hospital. For about two hours on many Thursday nights Michigan ruggers joined groups of athletes that visited the rooms of children throughout the hospital. From infants to teenagers, both patients and families greatly appreciate these visits that often bring some fun to their day. Additionally patients are given hats singed by the athletes that visit them. Michigan rugby will continue its involvement with this program throughout 2014. For more information visit the Michigan From The Heart Facebook Page
Ryan McDonough along with other athletes at Mott’s
Michigan Rugby was also given a unique opportunity to serve at an event this past November through an organization called New Michigan Media at the Detroit Symphony Orchestra. New Michigan Media, affiliated with New American Media, is a non-profit organization that consists of a network of ethnic and minority media founded in 2006. This annual event was a celebration of diversity in Detroit business as many key members of the Detroit business community were in attendance and were able to connect with a multitude of editors from minority magazines, newspapers and websites. Michigan Governor Rick Snyder was in attendance at the event which was also covered by local news. At the event, ten Michigan Rugby men helped event coordinators as servers, refilling drinks and assisting the caterers. The help was greatly appreciated and the Michigan Rugby volunteers enjoyed a fun night in downtown Detroit.
L-R, Evan Noon, Cam Watson, Gerrit Yntema, Jeff Smith, Aaron Dodd, Uygar Ozdemir, Dave Perpich, Spencer Scolnick, Sam Saunders
Additionally throughout the month of November a handful of players participated in a Movember. During this annual event the goal is to start clean shaven and grow a mustache for the entire month of November in an effort to raise money for men’s health, specifically for research into prostate and testicular cancer. More information can be found on the Movember Website. A special thanks goes out to Michigan Rugby player Alex Davidson for being one of the few who sported a mustache throughout the entire month and raised the most money through Michigan Rugby’s Movember page which altogether raised $130. Organizations across college campuses and the United States raised close to $1 million dollars which contributed to another successful Movember worldwide.
Joel Conzelmann looking good with the mustache
Michigan Rugby is proud to have been involved in these great events, and as club we look forward to continuing this tradition of service in 2014.
