UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — With the Penn State and Maryland football teams set to square off on Oct. 24, student-athletes from both schools are joining forces to make a positive impact in their communities during the upcoming week.
Penn State’s Student-Athlete Advisory Board (SAAB) and Maryland’s Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) are partnering to raise awareness and support women and children who are victims of domestic violence.Penn State teams and staff will be donating baskets that include infant and toddler toys, clothing, sheets and diapers to the Centre County Women’s Resource Center and Baltimore’s House of Ruth. Maryland teams and staff also will be donating baby shower baskets, and approximately 10 Terrapin student-athletes will be volunteering their time at the House of Ruth on Oct. 24.On Monday night, Oct. 19, Penn State’s SAAB will be accepting items for the baby baskets and financial donations for the two women’s shelters. The baskets will be assembled this week and a portion will be shipped for the House of Ruth, with the rest going to the Women’s Resource Center.“I am extremely proud of not only our student-athletes and staff, but Maryland’s as well, for embracing what community service should always be about: education and engagement,” said Keith Embray, Penn State assistant athletic director for student-athlete welfare and development.“Maryland’s SAAC is overseen by Sue Sherburne, assistant athletic director for life skills and career development, who earned two Penn State degrees and is a former staff member of the Morgan Academic Support Center for Student-Athletes.All of Penn State’s 31 programs embrace regular community engagement. Through a wide range of activities with organizations and groups of all ages, the Nittany Lions’ approximately 800 student-athletes performed more than 5,300 hours of community service in 2014-15.The Nittany Lion and Terrapin football squads will meet at 3:30 p.m. Oct. 24 in Baltimore’s M&T Bank Stadium. The game will air on ESPN, the Penn State Sports Network and GoPSUsports.com.