Nov. 30. 2008 - (Clarion, Pa.): With Thanksgiving fast approaching, the Clarion University Athletic Department, led by its (S.A.A.C) Committee and including all 16 varsity intercollegiate athletic programs, donated approximately 10,000 non-perishable food items to the Clarion County Community Action Food Bank.

The food donation was made on Thursday, November 20th, one week prior to Thanksgiving. Members of the SAAC Committee, intercollegiate athletes, coaches and administrative staff all helped in loading a big delivery truck, then taking the items to the food bank where they unloaded for general use.

"We are all so proud of the efforts made by our S.A.A.C. organization here at Clarion University, our head coaches and all of our athletes, who unselfishly gave to make this food drive a huge success," said Clarion Athletic Director Dave Katis. "The community projects that we choose annually, like the food drive, benefit a lot of local families in a real time of need. With the economy the way it is, we knew we had to step up our efforts to really help our local families. S.A.A.C. and our student athletes really came through this year, and President Rich Eckert deserves a lot of credit. He did a great job of organizing our food drive".

The Athletic Department also has the teams competing against one another, for an individual team prize, based on the amount of non-perishable items donated per athlete on each team.

The Clarion Women's Golf team, in its first year of intercollegiate play, was the team winner this year averaging 91.9 items per athlete. The women's golf team is coached by Marie Gritzer.

Also placing second were the swimming and diving teams, who averaged 51.8 cans per athlete, while women's basketball was third averaging 45.9 cans per athlete.

A complete breakdown of the donations is included below. The Clarion University Sports Medicine staff also helped in collecting and donating items for the food drive... The food drive is an annual event for the Clarion University Athletic Department, started a number of years ago by former Athletic Director Bob Carlson.

Canned Food Drive 2008

1.Women's Golf 91.9 cans per student

2.Swimming/Diving $650 vouchers for turkeys/558 cans. Approximately 51.8 cans per student

3.Women's Basketball 45.9 cans per student

4.Men's Basketball 28 cans per student

5.CC/Track 26.4 cans per student

6.Softball 22 cans per student

7.Soccer 21.4 cans per student

8.Men's Golf 20.4 cans per student

9.Volleyball 18 cans per student

10.Tennis 17.7 cans per students

11.Baseball 15.9 cans per student

12.Wrestling 14.3 cans per student

13.Football 8.6 cans per student

Athletic Training donated their cans to the cause!!!! Thanks!