Basketball Players Give Back

LOS ANGELES, Calif. (April 16, 2009) – Last week members of the 2008-09 Occidental College men’s basketball program participated in Sports Day at the Arroyo Vista Elementary School, where Head Coach Brian Newhall '83 and his wife Amy Marcus-Newhall '84 have been active volunteers for five years.

Since 2004 the Newhall’s have run the program in the their South Pasadena community, and every year it is a hit. In the spring, children grades K through five gather outdoors to partake in the fun-filled morning of activities.

Every year Coach Newhall brings along a handful of players to the event, which not only involves teaching basketball fundamentals (dribbling and shooting), but a plethora of other activities as well. The group of energetic and excited boys and girls from the school have an opportunity to participate in the 50-yard dash, soccer games, obstacle courses, jump rope, hula-hoop, bean-bag toss, stacking games, relay races and basketball games. .

It was an awesome experience being able to get into the community and work with those kids,” said senior captain Henry Meier. “They have such an infectious enthusiasm that you can’t help but have fun!”

Joining Meier, a Philosophy Major, this spring was Justin Goltz, a senior two-sport athlete and Economics Major.

Sports Day is one way that Occidental student-athletes remain active in giving back to the community.