SAAC Serves Local Community During Holiday Season

BAKERSFIELD, Calif. – Despite a busy season filled with practices, competitions, classes, tests, and papers, the CSU Bakersfield Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) teamed up with the campus' ASI group to put together a very successful Christmas Toy Drive. The two groups combined to collect nearly 100 toys to be donated to Toys for Tots while also raising $2,800 over the last month.

"I want to thank the Athletics Department, ASI, and the CSUB community for donating toys," said Vanessa Austin, Vice President of the CSUB SAAC. "But I ultimately want to thank SAAC for everything that they have done from collecting toys to shopping for families. I truly think this couldn't have been done without them."

The Christmas Toy Drive started on Nov. 15 when SAAC and ASI challenged each other to a friendly, two-week competition to see which group could collect the most toys. To incentivize the challenge, SAAC President Kris Rogic and ASI President Stephanie Magana both pledged to take a pie to the face if their side collected less toys. In the end, SAAC gathered 54 toys for kids while ASI collected a still-fantastic 38 toys and Austin "had the honor" to deliver the pie to Magana's face.

At one particular CSUB men's basketball game, the `Runner SAAC team collected a handful of toys as well as $575 in cash donations. With that money, they were able to go shopping for building blocks, baby dolls, blankets, Play-Doh, and more, all of which was donated to three less-fortunate families. The SAAC worked with a local organization called ShePower, run by Arleana Waller, to find these families and Austin said "it was truly an honor to see the smiles of the children we provided Christmas for."

The CSUB Athletics Department continues to be proud of the efforts put forth by its `Runner student-athletes, in the community, in the classroom, and in competition.

~GoRunners.com~

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