Join Us For Eastern University Sports As Caring Symposium & Access Sports Auction - March 3, 2012

Feb. 21, 2012 - PRLog -- Philadelphia, PA – February 21, 2012 – It’s a mix of education and celebration Saturday, March 3, 2012 as Eastern University’s School of Leadership & Development hosts a “SPORTS AS CARING” ACADEMIC SPORTS AND NONPROFIT SYMPOSIUM from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. in the Hall of Fame Room at the Comcast Spectacor Wells Fargo Center, 3601 S. Broad Street, Philadelphia, PA.  

The Symposium will focus on sports as a means of building life skills, community, and relationships as well as sports as a tool for therapy. Panelists include Mike Quick, sports commentator and former Philadelphia Eagle; Jim Britt, VP-COO of the Ed Snider Youth Hockey Foundation; and Jordan Burnham, a motivational speaker on ESPN, who will receive an award during the event.

“Feedback on our first sports symposium last year clearly showed the interest and the need for a symposium of this type.  It’s a great opportunity for some of our students to present academic quality presentations alongside experts, practitioners and scholars,” says Danny Bismark–Pettit, Director of Advancement & Administration at the School of Leadership and Development at Eastern University. “Alyson Harris, the organizer of this year’s symposium, is a graduate student in our nonprofit management program. Under the academic guidance of Program Director Professor Hans Tokke, the convener of the event, and the support of the university at large, it has been fun to see the symposium grow in the way we originally envisioned.”

Following the Symposium is the ACCESS SPORTS “ALL ACCESS” SPORTS AUCTION, from 5-9 p.m. at the Comcast Spectacor Wells Fargo Center’s Cadillac Grille. For only $65.00, enjoy dinner and cocktails, all while helping ACCESS SPORTS continue their mission of making dreams come true for at-risk and special needs individuals by providing them with memorable sports experiences.  

“We are thrilled to celebrate 10 years of service,” said Alyson Harris, founder and director of ACCESS SPORTS.  “It just shows the great sense of community in the Philadelphia area.  We’re so fortunate to have the help of people like Doug Shimell from NBC 10, who’s hosting the evening, and the Comcast Spectacor, for donating the space for the event. Everyone gets how much what we do means to the people we serve.”

Bid on a variety of items – including a Charlie Manuel-signed baseball and a 10-lap drive at Dover International Speedway - at the live and silent auction. Surprise guests will also be in attendance, making this a special event you do not want to miss. All auction proceeds benefit ACCESS SPORTS.

The Symposium (and parking) is free but pre-registration is required at http://www.eastern.edu/sportssymposium.  Tickets to the ALL ACCESS SPORTS AUCTION are available via Eventbrite at http://allaccesssportsauction-esearch.eventbrite.com/?srnk=2. The $65.00 ticket price includes dinner, admittance into the event and free parking (use the Broad Street Atrium for entrance to the event). A cash bar will be available. Tickets for both events must be secured by March 1, 2012.  




About EASTERN UNIVERSITY
The School of Leadership and Development at Eastern University is committed to exploring the tough issues that our society and those in the nonprofit sector are facing. The most recent event along these lines was a recent Symposium on Immigration and another on spiritual impact measurement. For more information on the School of Leadership and Development, visit: www.eastern.edu/sld

Eastern University is a Christian university of the arts and sciences that integrates faith, reason and justice into all of its programs for undergraduate, graduate, international, Ph.D., and Seminary students. It enrolls approximately 4,000 students within five colleges in the University: The College of Arts and Sciences, the Campolo College of Graduate and Professional Studies, the Templeton Honors College, Palmer Theological Seminary and Esperanza College. To learn more about the life-changing education at Eastern University, visit www.eastern.edu.


About ACCESS SPORTS
The only organization of its kind in the Delaware Valley, ACCESS SPORTS is a non-profit making dreams come true since 2002. By providing tickets to agencies serving underprivileged youth and individuals with physical and/or mental health disabilities, ACCESS SPORTS gives the opportunity to see exciting local professional and college sporting events, as well as other fun community events in the Philadelphia area.  To get involved or learn more about ACCESS SPORTS, visit www.access-sports.org or call 215-951-0330.