SPARTANS PARTICIPATE IN CASE FOR COMMUNITY DAY...
CLEVELAND, OH (September 13, 2006) - The Case Western Reserve University men’s basketball team will put away their high tops and grab a pair of work boots and gloves today to participate in the University’s fourth annual Case for Community Day (SEE PHOTOS).
“I appreciate their spirit of giving and their enthusiasm,” said Latisha James, the director of Case’s Center for Community Partnerships. “They have registered an entire team and are very interested in how they can serve our community. I think that’s just magnificent.”
A team of 18 Spartans, including the coaching staff, will travel down Euclid Avenue to East 97th Street and landscape the home of Ms. Lucille Jones, a senior resident unable to keep up with her yard.
Flowers, mulch, shrubs, mums and tools have been provided to the team by Case’s Facilities Services Department and Broadway Garden Nursery Center. The men’s basketball team will provide the muscle and sweat.
“As soon as you get off campus in East Cleveland you see that people are really struggling,” said junior guard Brandon Bradford. “We are fortunate here at Case, so it feels good to be able to give back to the people who are less fortunate.”
Head Coach Sean McDonnell put Bradford, who participated in Comcast Cares Day back in his hometown of Detroit, MI while attending Detroit Country Day School, in charge of this project. Bradford decided everything from making sure there was total team participation, to choosing their destination.
“I looked over the list of options this year and the residential landscaping for the elderly stood out to me,” said Bradford. “In the past we served meals and worked with children. This time we will get to meet the people we are working for and are able to see our results when we leave.”
This is the third consecutive year the team has lent a helping hand. The first year (2004) they assembled beds at the Ronald McDonald House and last year (2005) they did arts and crafts with Wade Park Elementary first graders. The Spartans also have prepared and served hot meals to disadvantaged community members at an East Cleveland church the last three years during the holiday season.
“Our kids, whether they know it or not, are all extremely privileged with bright futures,” said Coach McDonnell. “As they go into industry, medicine or whatever they do professionally, they are going to have the ability to make an impact on others. However, if they’ve never been asked to do that before, they might not realize the difference they can make.”
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