On Sunday, November 24th, the Union College Athletic Department and the local community celebrated the 34th Annual National Family Week at Achilles Rink as the Skating Dutchmen hosted the University of Connecticut. The Garnet added to the evening's festivities by handing the Huskies an 8-0 defeat as Union freshman goaltender Kris Mayotte recorded his first collegiate shutout and raised his record to 5-0-1.
Some of the activities that took place that night included the Child Watch Kidguard Safety Program where roughly 60 children will received a free laminated identification card that included their photograph and fingerprints. A Child Safety Fair provided families with information on different safety tips while the The Northeast Parent & Child Society supplied information on their Therapeutic Foster Family Programs.
Following the game families were invited to “Skate with the Dutchmen” and get autographs from their favorite players.
“The Union College Department of Athletics and Price Chopper were very proud to sponsor the Child Watch Kidguard safety program,” said Val Belmonte, Union's Director of Athletics. ” This (Child Watch) is a wonderful program providing safety rules and free photo / fingerprint ID cards for parents to have of their children. Knowledge is power…and if we can provide ways to help teach children how to recognize and react to potentially dangerous situations…then any efforts are a worthwhile endeavor”.
National Family Week was a combined effort of the Union College Athletic Department with support from Price Chopper and the Alliance for Children and Families, with the generous support of The Annie E. Casey Foundation.
Union's next community night will take place on Sunday, December 8 when, in the spirit of the holiday season, the Athletic Department will team up with the Marine Corps to bring Toys-for-Tots to Achilles Rink. All fans who bring an unwrapped gift to the Arena will receive $5 off a ticket (children under 12 will be admitted free with the donation of a gift) to that night's 7:00 p.m. game versus Iona.
Join the Dutchmen in helping to make this holiday season special for those local families in need of some extra holiday cheer.
If you would like further information on how you can help the Northeast Parent & Child Society, please call Jennifer Anderson at (518) 372-6708 or e-mail her at:
Jennifer2.Anderson@dfa.state.ny.us