FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 28, 2016
NEW HAVEN, Conn. - This past Saturday's Spring Football game at the University of New Haven wasn't just about the Chargers, it was about a special young man, Connor from Darien, Conn.
As part of the annual event, the New Haven Department of Athletics and Make-A-Wish Connecticut collaborated to deliver Connor's one true wish, to take a Mediterranean cruise.
Connor's day began by signing a one-day "contract" as the newest recruit for the New Haven football team. After meeting his new teammates and getting dressed in his brand new Charger football uniform, Connor led the Blue and Gold on their march to the field for the spring game.
Once at the field, Connor learned each of the ports he and his family would be visiting during their seven-day cruise on Norwegian Cruise Line's Epic.
Connor, his parents John and Damara and brother Aiden, will travel to Rome on Monday morning where they will embark on the trip of a lifetime. Connor's cruise includes stops in Livorno (Italy), Cannes (France), Provence (France), Barcelona (Spain), Naples (Italy) before returning to port in Rome.
While riding the 'SS Connor' around the Blue and Gold turf of Ralph F. DellaCamera Stadium, Connor and his family visited each of those cities and at each stop received a gift. When first entering their cruise ship at DellaCamera Stadium, Connor and his brother received UNH travel bags full of Charger gear courtesy of adidas and Champions Choice.
On his initial stop in Rome, Connor received a basket packed with Italian food courtesy of the New Haven Office of Human Resources. At his second stop in Livorno, Connor received an art supplies basket courtesy of AC Moore and Hull Art Supply.
When making his first stop in France at Cannes, Connor received UNH backpacks filled with snorkeling gear courtesy of Dick's Sporting Good. His second stop in France came in Provence where he received a basket full of French food items courtesy of Sodexo.
Connor's next stop brought him to the third country he will visit, Spain. While visiting Barcelona, Connor received a Spanish food basket courtesy of La Cuisine. On his final stop in Naples, Italy, Connor received a digital camera courtesy of Milford Photo. Along his route, Connor also had the opportunity to learn the language from Italy, France and Spain from New Haven students.
After learning the destinations he and his family would visit while on their Mediterranean Cruise, Connor joined the Chargers for a Blue versus White scrimmage, calling plays from the sideline on offense. Connor was also called into action for a third and goal opportunity late in the scrimmage, scoring the Chargers only touchdown of the day.
Following the scrimmage, Connor received his official travel packet from his Make-A-Wish Wish Granters. He then learned the art of pizza making with the owners of Cappetta's Italian Imports in West Haven. Finally, Connor and his family joined parents and friends of the New Haven football team for a postgame BBQ with much of the food made possible thanks to Hummel Bros.
The University of New Haven was granted the opportunity to host a Wish Delivery after raising the most donations among the 15 Northeast-10 institutions, raising more than $5,400 for Make-A-Wish in 2014-15. UNH is one of 37 Division II institutions and one conference who earned the opportunity to host a Wish Reveal or Delivery this year as part of the national initiative among NCAA Division II.
Overall, Division II schools throughout the country raised more than $605,000 for Make-A-Wish during the 2014-15 academic year, exceeding $600,000 for the first time in the 12 year partnership between NCAA Division II and Make-A-Wish. As a division, the $605,000 exceeded the previous year's efforts by $37,000.
The NCAA's alliance with Make-A-Wish began in 2003 and since then has raised nearly $4.1 million. That money has been used to grant wishes to more than 530 kids across the country with life-threatening medical conditions. According to a 2011 Wish Impact Study, the wishes can impact children's fights against their illnesses, helping them feel better and, in some cases, get better.
Information for this release provided by the New Haven athletics communications staff
About Make-A-Wish:
Make-A-Wish grants the wishes of children with life-threatening medical conditions to enrich the human experience with hope, strength and joy. According to a 2011 U.S. study of wish impact, most health professionals surveyed believe a wish-come-true has positive impacts on the health of children. Kids say wishes give them renewed strength to fight their illness, and their parents say these experiences help strengthen the entire family. Headquartered in Phoenix, Make-A-Wish is one of the world's leading children's charities, serving children in every community in the United States and its territories. With the help of generous donors and more than 27,000 volunteers, Make-A-Wish grants a wish somewhere in the country every 37 minutes. It has granted more than 254,000 wishes since its inception in 1980; more than 14,200 in 2014 alone. The Connecticut chapter has granted over 2,500 wishes since its inception in 1986. Visit Make-A-Wish Connecticut at ct.wish.org to learn more.
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.
