BLACK HISTORY MONTH CELEBRATION
In partnership with SFU Students of Caribbean and African Ancestry (SOCA), SAAC created a BHM night at a women’s basketball game that recognized campus leaders and advocates raising awareness of issues relevant to people of Black, African and Caribbean descent at SFU and globally. The game featured Black entertainers, dancers, merchants and speakers and was part of a month-long celebration that featured a digital advertising campaign profiling Black student-athletes. |
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RECOGNIZING TRUTH & RECONCILIATION
World Champion hoop dancer Alex Wells from the Lil'wat Nation, Mount Currie, performed at halftime of volleyball and soccer games on Sept. 29, 2023, as part of National Truth & Reconciliation activities organized by SAAC in consultation with SFU First Nations, Métis & Inuit Student Association. Prior to the game, Elder Marie Hooper from Kwikwetlem First Nation provided a blessing, Indigenous student Audrey Heath shared her experience and traditional Indigenous food, such as Salmon Potato Patties, Indian tacos, Bannock, and Elephant Ears, prepared by Mama Bear Catering from the Lil'wat Nation, was served. |
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RESIDENCE MOVE-IN DAY
At the end of August, numerous student athletes gathered atop Burnaby mountain in partnership with Res Life, SFSS and SFU Fair Trade, to assist incoming students on Residence Move-In Day. Directing traffic, assisting residents with moving their belongings into their room, and handing out popcorn and chocolate, were just a few of the tasks our athletes engaged in. Incoming students were also able to interact with many of SFU's student-athletes and were encouraged to come out and support varsity athletic events!
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VOLLEYBALL CUPCAKE FESTIVAL
Amount Raised: ~$900
To support SFU volleyball's 2019 home opener, SAAC members took on the initiative of baking 500 cupcakes to hand out free of charge in convocation mall and at the varsity event. For this festival, SFU's marketing team financially supported SAAC, and these proceeds were put towards our fundraising goal for the Make-A-Wish foundation. This successful event allowed the SFU student body to enjoy a tasty treat while watching SFU volleyball compete in their first game of the season.
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BRANDON BASSI BEACH CLEAN-UP
To commemorate SFU Men's soccer player Brandon Bassi, who tragically passed away in the summer of 2019, a beach cleanup at Kitsilano Beach in Vancouver was arranged in his memory. Student athletes gathered together to honour Brandon, while performing community service in his memory.
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WEEKLY SPECIAL OLYMPICS VOLUNTEERING
SAAC has continued its partnership with Special Olympics, specifically, the Special Olympics Club Fit Program in Coquitlam. Student-athletes from SFU attend fitness classes weekly to assist and support the athletes in the program with their fitness workouts. The Special Olympians attend and are celebrated at an SFU basketball game.
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OPERATION CHRISTMAS CHILD
To continue SAAC's tradition, "Operation Christmas Child" was conducted in late November, to support children in need in developing countries. Student-athletes and staff donated hygiene items, clothing, school supplies, and toys, to name a few, while also supplying shoe boxes so that packages could be made for poverty-stricken boys and girls. Christmas spirit was in full swing in the West Gym, as athletes listened to Christmas music, drinking hot chocolate and eating cookies, while feeling fortunate to be able to give to others at this amazing time of year. SAAC surpassed the previous 54 shoe box donation total from 2018, with 79 packages donated in 2019.
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STUDENT-ATHLETE WELCOME DAY
To kickoff the start of the 2019-20 year, student athletes gathered together for the Student Athlete Welcome Day to see the unveiling of the new SFU logo, while being provided with newly sponsored Nike SFU gear. To follow, a picture scavenger hunt took place with student athletes being split up into teams, and then working together to compete for a prize!
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VOLLEYBALL PINK NIGHT
Amount Raised: 564.70
The SFU Volleyball team, SAAC, and the athletic department, collectively organized a Pink Night as a way of supporting Cancer Research. Betsie de Beer, a senior on the SFU Volleyball team, shared the impact her former coach, Mike MacNeill, had on her before tragically passing away due to cancer. This fuelled the organization of the Pink Night event which took place on October 24 in the West Gym during SFU volleyball's home game against Western Oregon University. A bake sale, a 50/50 draw, a donation table, and a 'Who You Are Donating For' board were all carried out, and played a vital role in the success of the event. Through these efforts, more than $500 was raised for the Canadian Cancer Society!
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ALS NIGHT
Amount Raised: $747.55
At the end of October, SAAC ran a $2 Taco Night as a means of raising money in support of ALS (Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis). SAAC ran a bake sale, a 50/50 raffle, and assisted in the selling of the tacos during SFU Volleyball's home game against Western Washington University. Through the success of this event, a total of $747.55 was raised for ALS Research.
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MENTAL HEALTH CAMPAIGN: #FindYourWhy Week
In October, the week long #FindYourWhy Mental Health Campaign was conducted to give student-athletes an opportunity to develop their 'WHY', while becoming familiar with the various resources and services available to students on campus. A 'What Do You Value Most' video and 'Sticky Note Value' activity were created, giving student-athletes a chance to share and explain their top 3 values, as well as answer how they feel appreciated, what motivates them, and who they look up to. The end of the week served as a recap of the sticky note activity so that connections could be made to one's 'WHY' and its correlation to one's mental health and well-being.
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COOKIES AND COCOA IN CONVO MALL
With the Fall 2019 semester winding down and exams quickly approaching, SFSS ran a cookies and cocoa event with a number of SAAC members volunteering. The event took place in convocation mall and gave students a chance to decorate cookies and have hot chocolate as a nice break between classes. This event also allowed SAAC members to promote SFU NCAA athletics to the general student body to encourage them to come out to watch varsity events.
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WEEK OF WELCOME
SFU's week of welcome took place from Tuesday September 3 to Friday September 6 and gave members of SAAC as well as other eager student-athletes an opportunity to volunteer to welcome new students to SFU! SAAC members monitored the sport area, assisted at the BBQ station, participated in the basketball shot competition and ran the slushie and cotton candy station for the general student body. The Week of Welcome event also gave members of athletics an opportunity to introduce themselves to new SFU students while encouraging them to attend varsity events!
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FALL BAKE SALE / HOT CHOCOLATE SALES
Fundraising Amount: $500+
Throughout the Fall 2019 semester, a number of student-athletes volunteered to make baked goods to sell at bake sales during SFU varsity athletic events. These bake sales not only allowed fans to enjoy homemade treats while supporting SFU athletics, but it also assisted SAAC in its pursuit of raising money for the Make-A-Wish foundation. In addition, SAAC ran Hot Chocolate by Donation stations at many varsity events, most notably, the SFU Men's and Women's soccer games on November 7 at Fox Field. Fans stayed warm by enjoying a nice cup of hot chocolate while watching some great SFU soccer, and donating to an amazing cause
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DIVERSITY & INCLUSION WEEK
To support the week long diversity and inclusion social media campaign that occurred from Oct. 22 - Oct. 25, SAAC, along with student-athletes, created a variety of content to be shared. The week included a 'Who We Are' video highlighting the roles that student-athletes have outside of their athletic domains, followed by a 'Broadening our Horizons' activity, which shared the stories of current student-athletes and coaches on how they get involved on campus, in athletics, and within the community. The end of the week consisted of sharing a video from GNAC sports which was created at the GNAC conference, and finally, a 'Taking Action' activity, gave student-athletes the chance to share how they try to promote diversity and inclusion within their day-to-day lives.
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WINTER WARM-UP
On November 27, 2019, members of the SFU Women's and Men's Golf teams arranged a snag golf station to play against SFU students for prizes. Through this event, SAAC members and SFU's golf teams were able to promote varsity athletics to the SFU community at SFU Student Central's Winter Warm Up event in Convocation mall! A special thanks goes out to British Columbia Golf for helping introduce the sport of golf to the SFU student body!
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SAAC LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT
In the Fall 2019 semester, SAAC members participated in a Leadership Development workshop to assist in their development as leaders and in their pursuit of creating a better community here at SFU. Through this workshop, SAAC members were able to gain valuable leadership skills that will not only help during their time in SAAC, but will also be valuable within their respective teams, personal life, and community in the future. SAAC would like to thank Kim Senecal from DACATA Performance Group for running this Leadership Development workshop.
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HALLOWEEN SOCIAL & THROWBACK SOCIAL
Halloween SAAC Social - Amount Raised: $704 for Make-A-Wish Foundation & $315 for Canadian Cancer Society (CCS)
Throwback SAAC Social - Amount Raised: $1200
To celebrate Halloween, SAAC put on a Halloween SAAC Social at The Study Public House with all proceeds from ticket sales being put towards the Canadian Cancer Society as well as the Make-A-Wish foundation. The success of this event allowed for over $1000 to be raised for two amazing causes. SAAC also put on a Throwback Social with 90s being the theme of the night. Student-athletes wore their best clothes from 1980's-2000s while listening to a number of throwbacks. This event was also immensely successful, as $1200 was raised with all proceeds being given to the Make-A-Wish foundation
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WINTER GALA
Amount Raised: $550
The SFU Winter Gala took place at Twelve West in Vancouver on November 27, 2019. The event for student-athletes wrapped up the fall semester before final exams began, and allowed celebration for all accomplishments made throughout the Fall 2019 semester. Through ticket sales, SAAC was able to raise $550 for the Make-A-Wish foundation.
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FOOD DRIVE
At the end of the fall semester, SAAC held a food drive to collect non-perishable goods to donate to the Ronald Sanjay Naidu Foundation. On December 14th, all donations received by the foundation were be handed out along with a serving of hot food in and around Downtown East Vancouver.
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CLOTHING DRIVE AND THRIFT STORE
Amount Raised: $345.00
SAAC hosted our annual clothing drive to collect clothing that is then donated or sold. Clothes were be collected from student athletes and Athletics staff in collection bins in team locker rooms, study hall and the admin coaches office area. The clothing went towards a Thrift Shop which sold clothes with all proceeds going to Make-A-Wish and the remaining clothing went to the North Burnaby Neighbourhood House.
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