Originally reported for NCC News on November 13, 2010
Syracuse University students set aside their books in order to have some fun and help some orphans halfway around the world. Led by the local chapter of Engineers Without Borders, teams competed in the second annual dodgeball tournament held at the Womens Building on SU on November 13.
The funds raised during the double elimination tournament will help ‘Into Abba’s Arms’ a non-profit organization started by Jane Gravis more than ten years ago. The organization helps the homeless children of Kenya.
“Into Abba’s Arms is an orphanage that hosts about 30 orphans,” said Marieke Sparrow-Pepin, Engineers Without Borders President. “They’re actually trying to expand right now.”
There are many ways to raise funds for organizations like Into Abba’s Arms. However, the students wanted to do something not only fun and different, but also that did not require a lot of skill or preparation.
“We figured basketball tournaments happen all the time,” continued Sparrow-Pepin. “Dodgeball is something you don’t need skill to do and anyone can do it.”
The players may not have had time during the competition to realize their efforts would help provide funds for food, clothing, and medicine, but they knew they could change the lives of orphans halfway around the world. “It feels good to know dodgeball can help in some way,” said Tucker Hart, of the Tuc and Friends Team. “It can help the world.”
Although all the players had a great time, one player noted the dodgeball tournament was about having fun and helping out the orphanage.
It was a win-win situation as everyone had fun and raised money for children less fortunate. The size of the event and the amount of funds raised are not as important as the reason a small group of compassionate students put down their books and played dodgeball in order to make a difference in the world.
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