CSU SAAC Honored by Peach Belt Conference

HILTON HEAD, S.C. -- The Columbus State Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) was honored with two awards from the Peach Belt Conference at the league's annual meetings. CSU president Dr. Timothy Mescon and athletic director Jay Sparks received the PBC's Most Funds Raised and Most Improved awards on behalf of the CSU SAAC. Overall for the Peach Belt Conference, the 2008-09 year represented a nearly threefold increase in SAAC giving to the Make-A-Wish Foundation.

Columbus State raised $5,240 for the Make-A-Wish Foundation last year, leading the PBC and finishing just ahead of North Georgia, who raised $5,008. After raising a thousand dollars last year, the increase of over four thousand was also the largest in the Peach Belt Conference, again just ahead of North Georgia who increased their giving nearly four thousand dollars over last year. In 2008-09, the Columbus State SAAC worked with Habitat for Humanity and the Ronald McDonald House in addition to their other fund-raising efforts.

Charitable giving in the Peach Belt Conference was up all around for the academic year with 91% of PBC schools participating in the Make-A-Wish program. Overall, PBC schools raised $23,676 for the program, a 275% increase over last year.

The Make-A-Wish Foundation grants the wishes of children with life-threatening medical conditions to enrich the human experience with hope, strength and joy. Born in 1980 when a group of caring volunteers helped a young boy fulfill his dream of becoming a police officer, the Foundation is now the largest wish-granting charity in the world, with 66 chapters in the United States and its territories. With the help of generous donors and more than 25,000 volunteers, the Make-A-Wish Foundation grants a wish every 40 minutes and has granted more than 171,000 wishes in the U.S. since inception. Make-A-Wish and NCAA Division II entered into a partnership in 2003.