Community team
Brock Sports forms partnership with Meridian Credit Union for community outreach
It’s more than just a game for student athletes at Brock University.
A three-year-old initiative encourages players as well as coaches on varsity teams to get actively involved in the communty through outreach, leadership and by volunteering. Since it was established in 2015, the Brock Cares program has been co-ordinated through Brock Sports, the university’s athletic department.
“Badgers Care allows these student athletes and their coaches to use their passion for athletics to foster their own personal development beyond academics and sports,” Neil Lumsden, the university’s athletic director, said.
“At the same time, they’re working alongside the community to make Niagara a better place to live, work and play.”
Community outreach through the program was strengthened this past week when Ontario’s largest credit union joined Badgers Care as a community partner. The partnership with Meridian Credit Union was officially announced Wednesday at a men’s and women’s university basketball doublehader against the Guelph Gryphons at Bob Davis Gymnasium.
Wade Stayzer, Meridian vicepresident, retail, said the relationship between the financial institution and the university is a natural fit since both Brock and Meridian have a history of collaborating to help build stronger communities.
With the new agreement, Badgers Care, Powered by Meridian, will receive additional funding to extend its programming reach in Niagara.
“Both organizations aim to recognize and enhance the leadership potential in people,” Stayzer said. “At Brock, student-athletes find time between school, training and playing to volunteer and bring to life the Badgers Care program.
“At Meridian, employees build people’s lives through advice and fulfilment of financial services and we, too, volunteer and demonstrate our passions through our commitment to building strong communities.”
A busy weekend for Brock teams gets underway this morning in London, Ont., where the wrestling team is competing in a meet at Western, and this afternoon in Waterloo for the swimming team.
Both basketball teams return to the court today for home games against the Waterloo Warriors. The women’s game tips off at 6 p.m. followed by the men’s game two hours later.
Brock plays Western on the road today in men’s hockey starting at 7 p.m.
Sunday’s Ontario University Athletics volleyball schedule has the Badgers in Peterborough facing the Trent Excalibur.