For the fifth consecutive year, Student-Athlete Advisory Committees from all 15 American Southwest Conference member institutions are set to join together in “Make a Change in 14 Days,” a service project collecting loose coins to raise funds for local charitable organizations.
Arrangements are in place to collect change at local campuses over the 14-day period of January 25 through February 7 – coinciding with the turn of the conference divisional basketball schedule.
The conference-wide project is also designed as a friendly challenge among the ASC campuses. The member SAAC collecting the most funds will be honored by the conference as well as the top-earning division group:
- Concordia University Texas, Hardin-Simmons University, McMurry University, University of Mary Hardin-Baylor
- Mississippi College, Louisiana College, University of the Ozarks, University of Texas at Dallas
- East Texas Baptist University, LeTourneau University, University of Texas at Tyler
- Howard Payne University, Schreiner University, Sul Ross State University, Texas Lutheran University
Last year, the 15 conference SAAC groups combined to raise $8,205.46 for charity. In four years, nearly $28,000 has been raised to benefit 41 different organizations.
Louisiana College was the top-earning member SAAC for the third consecutive year in 2010 with $1,337.37 to benefit St. Frances Cabrini Cancer Center, a local breast cancer treatment facility. In three years, LC has collected over $6,300 that has gone directly to breast cancer research. LC was also part of the winning division group in 2010 along with University of the Ozarks, Mississippi College and University of Texas at Dallas. McMurry University won the inaugural title in 2007 and made its donation to the Children’s Miracle Network.
“Make a Change in 14 Days continues to be one of the most visible opportunities for the ASC student-athletes to be involved with their local communities,” ASC Commissioner Amy Carlton said. “We as a conference are proud of the work done by our 15 Student-Athlete Advisory Committees in supporting organizations within their local communities.”