DEFIANCE, Ohio – The Defiance College men’s basketball team was recently able to participate in a pair of events that allowed them to impact the communities outside of their own. This fall, the Jackets have participated in the Walk With Sunshine and the Make-A-Difference Day events.

The 12th-Annual Walk With Sunshine was held in September and was a fundraiser benefiting clients of Sunshine Inc. of Northwest Ohio, a non-profit organization serving over 1,000 people with developmental disabilities and their families. Members of the DC men’s basketball team pushed people in wheelchairs along the three-mile trek, making it possible for a record number of participants at the event.

The team also spent two days in Columbus, Ohio, on Make-A-Difference Day. Over the last 19 years, this event has become the nation’s largest single day of volunteering. The Jackets volunteered to help with the Special Olympics State Bowling Tournament by assisting two lanes of competing bowlers. The tasks included helping to keep the competitor’s motivation and spirits high, to helping with game logistics.

These experiences not only impacted those that DC was helping, it made a lasting impression on the Yellow Jackets who were able to offer their help. “It feels great to know that we are making a difference in people’s lives that may not be as fortunate as us,” sophomore Kevin Tietje stated. “It was very rewarding to see how excited the athletes were and it was definitely something to look forward to each year.”

Coach Kyle Brumett added, “Being part of a team means being part of something bigger than yourself. I push these guys all year to embrace that concept, and volunteer opportunities like these give us another way to put that idea into action. They also give our team a chance to come together for a cause much more important than winning games.”

Spending time volunteering for community service projects is not uncommon for student-athletes at Defiance College. During the last two academic years, DC athletic teams have chipped in more than 5,000 hours of service in and around the Defiance community.

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