Bombers Give Back During Holiday Season

By Justin Lutes, January 6, 2021
Ithaca College coaches and student-athletes donate gifts to local children through Cornell Elves Program.
Student athletes and coaches holding gift bags

(Clockwise, from top left): Morgan Hoffman Smith ’21, head baseball coach David Valesente, Abbi Field ’21, and head softball coach Hannah Quintana ’07 spread some cheer this holiday season.

(Photo courtesy of Kaitlyn Wahila)

(Clockwise, from top left): Morgan Hoffman Smith ’21, head baseball coach David Valesente, Abbi Field ’21, and head softball coach Hannah Quintana ’07 spread some cheer this holiday season.

(Photo courtesy of Kaitlyn Wahila)

This past holiday season, Ithaca College student-athletes and coaches gave back to the local community and spread some cheer by partnering with Cornell University and The Elves Program.

A non-denominational group of volunteers founded in 1989 to benefit children in need in Tompkins Country and the surrounding area, The Elves Program's Winter Holiday Program provides clothing, toys, school supplies, and warm blankets to at-need school-age children.

When presented with the opportunity to take part in the program, IC coaches embraced the initiative.

“One of the great things about athletics and being a part of the Bomber family is that you get the opportunity to be a part of something, and make a difference, in a way that is so much bigger than anything you could do on your own. The team was proud to be active in helping our local community this holiday.”

Mindy Quigg, head women's soccer coach

“I am so proud of our student-athlete advisory council (SAAC) for their involvement in The Elves Program,” said field hockey head coach Kaitlyn Wahila. “When our SAAC Co-Chairs, Victoria Sestito and Warren Watson II brought this idea up in our November meeting, our student-athletes rose to the occasion and 15 of our programs were involved. Our teams chose to either donate funds to The Elves Program or sponsor a child directly. The dedication of our student-athletes to bring holiday cheer to those in need is inspiring!”

The spirit of giving demonstrated by the coaches and student-athletes fully embodied the college’s strategic plan objective of being a private college serving a public good.

“When I presented the idea to our student-athletes, they jumped at the chance to participate,” said women’s soccer head coach Mindy Quigg. “One of the great things about athletics and being a part of the Bomber family is that you get the opportunity to be a part of something, and make a difference, in a way that is so much bigger than anything you could do on your own. The team was proud to be active in helping our local community this holiday.”

You can read more about the experience for coaches and student-athletes on the Ithaca College athletics website.