FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
November 22, 2016
PHOTO GALLERY
WTNH SPORTZEDGE STORY
FOX 61 STORY
WFSB STORY
HARTFORD COURANT STORY
WEST HAVEN, CONN. – New Haven head football coach Chris Pincince announced the signing of six-year old Jeshua Lopez as the newest member of the Charger Nation Family.
Lopez comes to New Haven through a partnership with the Team IMPACT program whose mission is to improve the quality of life for children facing life-threatening and chronic illnesses through the power of team.
"Jeshua is a great addition to our program," said Pincince. "Partnering with Team IMPACT and having the opportunity to support Jeshua and his family is an inspirational experience. His infectious smile and relentless work ethic fits into our program seamlessly. We are excited to spend more time with Jeshua and his family"
Jeshua was recently diagnosed with Common Variable Immunodeficiency (CVID), a disorder that impairs the immune system. People with CVID are at a higher risk for developing infections, including pneumonia. Because of his condition, Jeshua has been in and out of the hospital his entire life, which also keeps him out of school.
Team advocates Collin Hill, Tyler Condit, Zach Voytek, Eliot Leubner, Andrew Parent, Ajee Patterson, Chris Liggio and Kevin Robinson were all influential in the matching process and entire Charger football team is excited to add Jeshua to the roster. Coach Pincince and the team advocates met Jeshua this past summer and have been spending time with him and his family since.
"We are very excited to add Jeshua to our program," proclaimed Hill, a senior wide receiver. "Having the opportunity to impact someone's life is enriching. When we first met Jeshua he smiled and handed us one of his bracelets, with 'Team Jeshua' and his illness on it. I continue to wear that bracelet daily. He doesn't talk much, but that smile really moves you."
Jeshua made his initial visit to campus on September 18 after the Chargers defeated Saint Anselm 52-21 at DellaCamera Stadium. He also attend his first game on the Blue and Gold turf on October 1 when the Chargers hosted rival Southern Connecticut State University.
About Team IMPACT: Team IMPACT is a 501(c)(3) non-profit national organization, based in Boston, whose mission is to improve the quality of life for children facing life-threatening and chronic illnesses through the power of team. Team IMPACT children are drafted on to college athletic teams, local to where they live and, in effect, become official members of the team from Draft Day through to Graduation. Established in 2011, Team IMPACT has already matched over 1000 children with collegiate teams at over 430 institutions in 45 states, improving the quality of life of hundreds of courageous children and touching the lives of over 30,000 student athletes. Visit www.GoTeamIMPACT.org to learn more.
.@NewHavenNation Adds Six-Year-Old Jeshua Lopez Through Team IMPACT #GetChargedUp @GoTeamIMPACT #BeTheIMPACT https://t.co/oef9sGdZmM pic.twitter.com/ZF9PbvI13Z
— New Haven Chargers (@UNHChargers) October 16, 2016
Reporting for this release provided by the New Haven athletics communications staff
ABOUT THE NORTHEAST-10
The Northeast-10 Conference is an association of 15 NCAA Division II colleges and universities located in New England and New York that is committed to supporting balanced academic and athletic opportunities for more than 6,500 student-athletes.
Each year, 4,500 of those student-athletes compete in conference championships in 24 sports, making the NE-10 the largest DII conference in the country in terms of sport sponsorship. Leading the way in the classroom, on the field and within the community, the Northeast-10 is proud of its comprehensive program and the experience it provides student-athletes.
