St. Michael's College Soccer Teams Work With Youth Through EDD Memorial Fund Program

For Immediate Release: April 28, 2016
For More Information, Contact: Josh Kessler, (802) 654-2537


COLCHESTER, Vt. - The Saint Michael's College men's and women's soccer teams hosted a free clinic on Sunday for children and young adults with physical, cognitive or developmental disabilities through the Eric D. Dettenrieder (EDD) Memorial Fund. This marks the sixth consecutive year the women's program has paired with the EDD Memorial Fund for such an event, having also hosted a clinic in August at the Doc Jacobs Field Complex.
 
The Purple and Gold taught skills in a non-competitive setting for 24 athletes, with a scrimmage, pizza and an awards ceremony following. Not only has the women's soccer team hosted a clinic through the EDD Memorial Fund each of the past six falls, but the student-athletes have annually gone bowling with many of the children and young adults who attend the clinics. This was the Purple Knights' third spring clinic in four years, and the women's soccer squad is also slated to host its annual fall clinic through the EDD Memorial Fund on Aug. 20.
 
Through programming such as this weekend's event, the EDD Memorial Fund will reach 300 kids and young adults with disabilities this year. For more information, contact EDD Memorial Fund Director Gretchen Owens at (802) 399-4366 or events@eddfund.org, or visit eddfund.org and facebook.com/eddfund.
 
The EDD Memorial Fund, which is named for the late Dettenrieder, who worked as a ski instructor for terminally ill children, serves to build self-confidence and purpose in young people with disabilities through providing sports opportunities. The fund provides recreational and competitive sports programs for individuals with disabilities in New York, Pennsylvania and Vermont.