Boston College Athletics Continues Its Long-Standing Partnership with Team IMPACT
March 30, 2021 | Boston College Athletics
Since 2011, BC Athletics has served as the gold standard for athletics departments around the country by demonstrating its dedication to the community and changing the lives of children facing serious and chronic illness
CHESTNUT HILL, Mass. — The Boston College Athletics Department and Team IMPACT will continue their long-standing partnership for an additional two years, running through the 2022-23 academic year. Since 2011, BC Athletics has served as the gold standard for athletics departments around the country by demonstrating its dedication to the community and changing the lives of children facing serious and chronic illness.
The two-year commitment announced today will further establish the long-lasting partnership and will be centered around each organization's core values and mission: promoting empathy, resilience, camaraderie and excellence, while providing a student-athlete development experience focused on the whole person.
"We are thrilled to continue the partnership between Boston College Athletics and Team IMPACT. The relationships and bonds that are forged between our student-athletes and the children and their families who join our teams are truly amazing," said Patrick Kraft, Boston College's William V. Campbell Director of Athletics. "The work that Team IMPACT does for children and their families is vitally important and we celebrate our continued collaboration."
Dating back to their original partnership nearly a decade ago, BC and Team IMPACT have made 18 all-time matches, including active connections with the Eagles' swimming & diving, football, men's hockey, women's hockey, and men's soccer programs. Additionally, two Boston College student-athletes will serve as on-campus Team IMPACT fellows. These positions, working closely with BC's student-athlete advisory counsel (SAAC) to provide opportunities for development through a curriculum-based training on topics such as diversity and inclusion, advocacy, and professional development. Additionally, BC's SAAC will establish and maintain a committee for student-athletes that are currently matched as well as those who are interested in getting matched.
"The growing relationship between Boston College Athletics and Team IMPACT has formed doses of hope and optimism even through the pandemic," said Maddy McArthur, a member of the Boston College women's ice hockey team and a Team IMPACT fellow.
My first interaction with Team IMPACT occurred when our team signed Natalia last spring. She immediately had a beneficial influence on our team. After experiencing the bond with Natalia, I wanted to commit myself to expanding that transformative experience throughout Boston College Athletics and the greater campus community by becoming a Team IMPACT fellow. Team IMPACT has provided me and many other BC student-athletes with such a rare experience where all members involved develop a deeper appreciation for life."
Established in 2011, Team IMPACT has matched over 2,000 children with collegiate teams at over 700 institutions in 49 states, reaching over 60,000 student athletes. Team IMPACT tackles the emotional trauma and social isolation experienced by children facing serious and chronic illnesses by matching them with a college athletic team. These therapeutic programs complement a child's medical treatments, as they develop relationships and skills that help them complete the full circle of healing.
"Team IMPACT is thrilled to form an official partnership with Boston College, one of the first schools to ever participate in our program. The partnership will further strengthen our relationship and celebrate our collective mission to serve others by improving the lives of resilient, courageous children in our community. As a Boston College alum and a Team IMPACT leader, I am especially excited for the opportunity to work together to create life-changing experiences for the children and student-athletes involved," said Ryan Irwin, Team IMPACT's Northeast Regional Executive Director. "Over the past year, when children needed our program more than ever, BC student-athletes and coaches stepped up by signing three new Team IMPACT teammates and built amazingly supportive relationships, bringing both shared perspective and joy during immense challenges. The Eagles are setting the bar high for how our clinical program should be done, and I'm excited to continue doing great things together to help more pediatric patients and families in the Boston area."
The two-year commitment announced today will further establish the long-lasting partnership and will be centered around each organization's core values and mission: promoting empathy, resilience, camaraderie and excellence, while providing a student-athlete development experience focused on the whole person.
"We are thrilled to continue the partnership between Boston College Athletics and Team IMPACT. The relationships and bonds that are forged between our student-athletes and the children and their families who join our teams are truly amazing," said Patrick Kraft, Boston College's William V. Campbell Director of Athletics. "The work that Team IMPACT does for children and their families is vitally important and we celebrate our continued collaboration."
Dating back to their original partnership nearly a decade ago, BC and Team IMPACT have made 18 all-time matches, including active connections with the Eagles' swimming & diving, football, men's hockey, women's hockey, and men's soccer programs. Additionally, two Boston College student-athletes will serve as on-campus Team IMPACT fellows. These positions, working closely with BC's student-athlete advisory counsel (SAAC) to provide opportunities for development through a curriculum-based training on topics such as diversity and inclusion, advocacy, and professional development. Additionally, BC's SAAC will establish and maintain a committee for student-athletes that are currently matched as well as those who are interested in getting matched.
"The growing relationship between Boston College Athletics and Team IMPACT has formed doses of hope and optimism even through the pandemic," said Maddy McArthur, a member of the Boston College women's ice hockey team and a Team IMPACT fellow.
My first interaction with Team IMPACT occurred when our team signed Natalia last spring. She immediately had a beneficial influence on our team. After experiencing the bond with Natalia, I wanted to commit myself to expanding that transformative experience throughout Boston College Athletics and the greater campus community by becoming a Team IMPACT fellow. Team IMPACT has provided me and many other BC student-athletes with such a rare experience where all members involved develop a deeper appreciation for life."
Established in 2011, Team IMPACT has matched over 2,000 children with collegiate teams at over 700 institutions in 49 states, reaching over 60,000 student athletes. Team IMPACT tackles the emotional trauma and social isolation experienced by children facing serious and chronic illnesses by matching them with a college athletic team. These therapeutic programs complement a child's medical treatments, as they develop relationships and skills that help them complete the full circle of healing.
"Team IMPACT is thrilled to form an official partnership with Boston College, one of the first schools to ever participate in our program. The partnership will further strengthen our relationship and celebrate our collective mission to serve others by improving the lives of resilient, courageous children in our community. As a Boston College alum and a Team IMPACT leader, I am especially excited for the opportunity to work together to create life-changing experiences for the children and student-athletes involved," said Ryan Irwin, Team IMPACT's Northeast Regional Executive Director. "Over the past year, when children needed our program more than ever, BC student-athletes and coaches stepped up by signing three new Team IMPACT teammates and built amazingly supportive relationships, bringing both shared perspective and joy during immense challenges. The Eagles are setting the bar high for how our clinical program should be done, and I'm excited to continue doing great things together to help more pediatric patients and families in the Boston area."
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