Men’s Basketball Gives Back

St. Barnabas Photo Gallery | NYAC Clinic Photo Gallery (photos by Nick Stanaj)
 
Bronx, N.Y. (January 14, 2015) – The Fordham University men's basketball team had a busy weekend, not only hosting the University of Dayton on Saturday night but also distributing toys at a local health center on Friday and giving a free clinic to youth at the NYAC on Saturday morning.
 
On Friday afternoon, the entire team spread some belated holiday cheer as they demonstrated the Jesuit philosophy of homines pro aliis (people for others), brightening the lives of some Bronx youngsters by presenting the children with presents at St. Barnabas Hospital, in the Bronx.
 
"This is always on of the best days of the year for us," said Fordham head men's basketball coach Tom Pecora. "I stress to the team how important it is for them to do community service and they have responded, having as much fun giving the gifts as the children have in getting them. But more that the gifts, it the time the guys spend with the kids that's invaluable. I think it's important for the players to understand that this is real life. It's something that will hopefully stay with them for a long time."
 

The gifts presented to the children were donated by Fordham basketball fans at all men's and women's home basketball games prior to Christmas as well as by members of the Athletic Department. Besides the gifts, the children also received Fordham basketball baseball caps and t-shirts from the student-athletes.
 
This is the tenth straight year that the Fordham basketball program has appeared at the St. Barnabas Hospital and Union Community Health Center to distribute gifts to the children. The original idea was to us the day to help recognize Three Kings Day, celebrated annually on January 6^th, twelve days after Christmas.  It is often viewed as the last day of the Christmas season (the end of the 12 days of Christmas).

On Saturday morning, head coach Tom Pecora, assistant coach Mike DePaoli, director of basketball operations Mike Quinn, members of the team and some mangers ventured in to Manhattan to put on a clinic for members of the NYCA, who later came to the Dayton game. The children were split into groups for skill sessions that included, dribbling, passing, rebounding and shooting with members of the Fordham men's basketball team including Ryan Canty, Nihad Musovic, Matt Massimino, Manny Suarez, Zaire Thompson along with managers Nick Stanaj, Dan Coster and Chris Scerbo.