Student-Athletes Fulfill School Mission Through Service
February 27, 2017 | Devlin Student-Athlete Formation & Succe, #ForBoston Files
Many Eagles recently worked with the Jared Box Project for sick children at Newton-Wellesley Hospital
At Boston College, athletes represent their school in some of the stiffest competition in the nation. They take their field in some of the hardest games, against some of the most talented players, against some of the best-ranked programs of all-time.
What differentiates Boston College from those schools goes beyond what happens on the field, however. With a core Jesuit mission reflecting the concept of service for others, Eagle student-athletes are provide assistance wherever they can for the community around them.
For some at BC, that recently took them to Newton-Wellesley Hospital to provide assistance to sick children in both the emergency department and pediatric unit. In conjunction with the Jared Box Project, BC student-athletes recently visited the hospital to provide gifts and cheer to children currently receiving hospital care.
"It was a really cool experience," said senior softball player Jordan Weed. "Though we didn't get the chance to walk through much of the hospital itself, we had a chance to walk through both the pediatric unit and the emergency unit. We had a chance to see and talk to the nurses in both of those areas, and everyone expressed how appreciative they were."
A Jared Box, simply put, is a gift box for a chronically-ill child receiving care within the hospital. The boxes represent a chance for the child to remain at play, with toys and fun put together by people who donate time, energy, and money.
Per the foundation's website, the Jared Box Project was founded in 2001 by the children at Our Lady of Victory School in Pennsylvania. In honor and memory of a classmate who fought cancer at five years old, the project had grown to having delivered over 200,000 boxes.
It's a project the Eagles quickly jumped at the chance to join.
"I'm a kid lover, so I was very excited myself," Weed said. "But I know that our entire team was excited. We met as a team and put the boxes together, and it was just a great experience. We had stickers and toys - just things to make sure kids could play with. We also wrote a short note to the kids when we put together the boxes."
Eagles representing many different teams then went to Newton-Wellesley to deliver the boxes.
"I really was jumping for joy for the chance to be a part of this," Weed said. "Our boxes were stuffed to the max and we had to tape the boxes shut because there was so much stuff in them. We really wanted to make sure that these kids got great experiences because we wanted to bring them an overwhelming joy. We felt that joy in being able to help them."
It was a unique opportunity that fell in line with Boston College's motto of service. Part of the institution's stated mission revolves around education being more than just intellectual. In assisting sick kids, these student-athletes are fulfilling that aspect and developing their character in ways that challenges them to give back.
"Our motto is to give back to others," Weed said. "It's really cool to be able to do it for the kids. One thing that's really great about Boston College is that the school allows and encourages us to give back. Other schools are only about the sport, but coming to school here really enables us to do things like this that can have such a positive impact."
For the softball team, donating time and energy drives home that impact. According to Weed, the Jared Boxes touched home for the entire team. She pointed to her own experiences with entities like the Boys and Girls Club and how those organizations enable the Eagles to give back. In working with Newton-Wellesley, BC was able to give back to an organization that sits as the official sports medicine provider for the athletics department.
"It's especially cool for us to give back to our own home community in Newton," Weed said. "It's only a couple of miles away from campus and the nurses and the kids all really appreciated (what we did). It's really exciting, and it's something that we will all be able to keep in mind for the future. I really hope that we get to stay a part of this project and continue to help causes like this (moving forward)."
For more information on the Jared Box Project, visit www.thejaredbox.com.
What differentiates Boston College from those schools goes beyond what happens on the field, however. With a core Jesuit mission reflecting the concept of service for others, Eagle student-athletes are provide assistance wherever they can for the community around them.
For some at BC, that recently took them to Newton-Wellesley Hospital to provide assistance to sick children in both the emergency department and pediatric unit. In conjunction with the Jared Box Project, BC student-athletes recently visited the hospital to provide gifts and cheer to children currently receiving hospital care.
"It was a really cool experience," said senior softball player Jordan Weed. "Though we didn't get the chance to walk through much of the hospital itself, we had a chance to walk through both the pediatric unit and the emergency unit. We had a chance to see and talk to the nurses in both of those areas, and everyone expressed how appreciative they were."
A Jared Box, simply put, is a gift box for a chronically-ill child receiving care within the hospital. The boxes represent a chance for the child to remain at play, with toys and fun put together by people who donate time, energy, and money.
Per the foundation's website, the Jared Box Project was founded in 2001 by the children at Our Lady of Victory School in Pennsylvania. In honor and memory of a classmate who fought cancer at five years old, the project had grown to having delivered over 200,000 boxes.
It's a project the Eagles quickly jumped at the chance to join.
"I'm a kid lover, so I was very excited myself," Weed said. "But I know that our entire team was excited. We met as a team and put the boxes together, and it was just a great experience. We had stickers and toys - just things to make sure kids could play with. We also wrote a short note to the kids when we put together the boxes."
Eagles representing many different teams then went to Newton-Wellesley to deliver the boxes.
"I really was jumping for joy for the chance to be a part of this," Weed said. "Our boxes were stuffed to the max and we had to tape the boxes shut because there was so much stuff in them. We really wanted to make sure that these kids got great experiences because we wanted to bring them an overwhelming joy. We felt that joy in being able to help them."
It was a unique opportunity that fell in line with Boston College's motto of service. Part of the institution's stated mission revolves around education being more than just intellectual. In assisting sick kids, these student-athletes are fulfilling that aspect and developing their character in ways that challenges them to give back.
"Our motto is to give back to others," Weed said. "It's really cool to be able to do it for the kids. One thing that's really great about Boston College is that the school allows and encourages us to give back. Other schools are only about the sport, but coming to school here really enables us to do things like this that can have such a positive impact."
For the softball team, donating time and energy drives home that impact. According to Weed, the Jared Boxes touched home for the entire team. She pointed to her own experiences with entities like the Boys and Girls Club and how those organizations enable the Eagles to give back. In working with Newton-Wellesley, BC was able to give back to an organization that sits as the official sports medicine provider for the athletics department.
"It's especially cool for us to give back to our own home community in Newton," Weed said. "It's only a couple of miles away from campus and the nurses and the kids all really appreciated (what we did). It's really exciting, and it's something that we will all be able to keep in mind for the future. I really hope that we get to stay a part of this project and continue to help causes like this (moving forward)."
For more information on the Jared Box Project, visit www.thejaredbox.com.
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