By Ariana Giorgi ’13
Courtesy of Alec Golini ‘14| The Lafayette
Varsity athletes are required to do some community service each year. Members of the track and field team, for example, donate money to benefit underprivileged children. The men’s and women’s swimming and diving team coaches Special Olympians. The women’s soccer team collects shampoo and soap bottles during away games, donating them to the needy in the community.
However, a troupe of men soccer players went above and beyond, starting their own non-profit organization: Athlete’s Creating Abundant Relief Effort, or C.A.R.E. Alec Golini ‘14 started the group this summer.
Golini had the idea for the organization last Thanksgiving. A family friend had started a non-profit organization, helping the homeless and the needy in Philadelphia. Golini began to volunteer. The friend then approached him, suggesting that he pursue a similar opportunity in his own area.
Golini soon began the paperwork.
“Alec has been the driving force of the whole organization since the beginning,” said Vice-Chairperson of Athletes C.A.R.E. Nate McDonald ‘14.
Now C.A.R.E.’s Executive Director, Golini began wrestling with state paperwork and the IRS to earn state approval of the organization in the spring. Now, Athletes C.A.R.E. is an official Pennsylvania non-profit.
“Our aim is to reach out to the hungry, the homeless, and the needy,” Golini said. “But I don’t think it’s limited to any of those groups.” He added that he would like to someday help underprivileged children in the area.
A few weeks ago, Athletes C.A.R.E. finally made its presence known on campus when it hosted the Cans for C.A.R.E. drive in Lower Farinon. Members collected cash donations and canned food items to benefit the Safe Harbor House of Easton for Thanksgiving.
The drive raised close to $700, which helped purchase over 300 canned food items, nearly 20 pounds of rice, and 320 pairs of socks. Golini mentioned that the swim team also donated almost five boxes of food.
An assembly line of individuals helped bring the food inside to Safe Harbor.
“It was really special to see the look on their faces when we delivered this enormous donation to them,” he said. “They were so generous that they too participated in helping carry the items from the car. One of them giving me a big handshake and a hug before leaving.”
Golini would like to see Athletes C.A.R.E. branch out from Lafayette to other local schools. Additional events for the end of this semester and the coming spring are planned, which Golini hopes will become annual. A lightly used clothing drive is on the non-profit’s to-do list.
The group’s Board of Trustees—consisting of 16 members—is made up of Golini’s family and friends. In addition to Goliniand McDonald, Luc Bruggeman ‘14 serves as secretary and Tom McCutcheon ’15 serves as Treasurer. Other Board members include players on the soccer team.
McDonald hopes that the organization will continue running long after he graduates, giving future generations of students an instrument to provide relief.
“It’s one of those things that it just feels good to do good,” said McDonald.
