NHS Athletes Volunteer Time—

Winners On And Off The Playing Surfaces

By Andy Hutchison

Many Newtown High School athletes — when they weren’t busy scoring goals, running laps, winning games — were busy winning over people less fortunate by donating their efforts and time in a variety of ways this past season.

Members of the girls’ lacrosse team have been winners on and off the field for several seasons. The five-time South-West Conference champions choose an organization and raise money each year and this year the team went hands on and spent a day at the Ronald McDonald House in New Haven. The girls stocked the kitchen, cooked and cleaned for the families, and donated toys, books and DVDs for the house when families stay with their sick children. Two years ago, the team raised more than $4,000 to benefit those who suffer from spinal muscular atrophy. Coach Maura Fletcher has a niece who is afflicted with this terminal illness.

NHS goaltender Marnie Thompson, who suffers from diabetes, put together a Save Shots/Save Lives program in which she raises money for every save she makes to the American Diabetes Association. Thompson, this past season, made every save she had more meaningful than they otherwise would have been. In helping the Hawks to another championship season, Thompson, with the help of parents and fans who participated in the fundraising effort, raised thousands of dollars for to benefit those with the disease.

Coach Matt Childs and the boys’ swim team, along with members of the Brookfield High swim team, have raised about $8,000 during the last five years for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society in memory of Greg Chion (a former NHS student and member of the boys’ swim team). Brian Rieff, who coached Chion, who lost his battle with cancer in 2000, is now the coach at Brookfield High. When the two schools meet each winter, they charge admission to the meet and proceeds go to the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society.

Southern Connecticut Storm Special Hockey is an organization run entirely by volunteers and provides a safe hockey experience for children and young adults with a developmental disability. NHS varsity hockey player Ted Benoit is a team mentor to Zach Friedland of Redding. Benoit skated with Friedland during the season and the two skaters developed a friendship. Benoit also assists the coaching staff in instructing the team players how to skate and play hockey at Wonderland Of Ice in Bridgeport.

The boys’ basketball team runs the Giorno/Harmon 3 On 3 Benefit each November to kick off the season. The event hosts more than 250 children each year and raises money for the Giorno Children College Fund in memory of John Giorno, a friend to many in the Newtown basketball community who was lost to cancer in 2002, and the Harmon Family Fund in memory of Kim Harmon, the late Bee sports editor. In addition to the Coach John Quinn’s players running the tournament, team managers Nina Rizk and Megan Fahy sold raffle tickets and helped with food sales during the daylong event.

The varsity and junior varsity basketball team members also volunteer their time as assistant coaches at the Rising Star Summer League at Treadwell Park and players Daniel Quinn and Dan Lynch teach CCD at St Rose.

In past seasons, members of Newtown High’s softball team have volunteered to categorize donated canned food items for Newtown Social Services.

Win or lose in their games, Newtown High’s athletes have had winning seasons by virtue of their many efforts to make other people’s lives better.