Connecticut Children's Hospital Family Adopted By SAAC

STORRS, Conn. (December 29, 2008) – The University of Connecticut’s Student-Athlete Advisory Committee teamed up with the Connecticut Children’s Hospital to raise over $600 for a patient’s family. Through the Adopt-a-Family program at the hospital, local business and organizations are given to opportunity to help a family in need during the holidays.

The Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) adopted a family of four whose youngest daughter, Dora of four months, had been hospitalized since early September due to respiratory and feeding challenges, and now has a tracheotomy tube and is progressing. With the high cost of medical bills and time away from work holiday gifts are often not at the top of the ‘to do’ list.

SAAC was able to use the $600 raised by student-athletes and athletic community to purchase clothes, book and toys for the patient and her older eight-year old sister. For their parents, SAAC sent over a new car seat and a sizable gift card to a local grocery store. The gifts were delivered anonymously to the Children’s Hospital but word was received that the girls and parents enjoyed opening their gifts.

The Student-Athlete Advisory Committee would like to thank all the student-athletes and athletic community for their help in raising money for this family. Teamwork is what UConn Athletics is all about and working together to make a difference in the lives of others is always the biggest win.