(L-R): Sawyer Post, Hannah Ackers, Bailey Higgins
Athletes for Hope Internships Help Spartans Make a Difference
9/17/2018 2:05:00 PM | Field Hockey
East Lansing, Mich. – Athletes for Hope has been committed to helping athletes make a difference in the world and that has impacted a trio of Michigan State field hockey players.
Athletes for Hope is a non-profit organization founded in 2007 by a group of professional athletes – including Muhammad Ali, Mia Hamm and Cal Ripken Jr. – who shared a deep commitment to giving back. It has grown from its original founds to more than 4,000 athletes across many sports leagues.
Among those athletes are the MSU field hockey team, which has partnered with Athletes for Hope over the last few years. This past summer, senior back Bailey Higgins (Louisville, Ky./Assumption), junior back Hannah Ackers (White Haven, Pa./Crestwood) and sophomore Sawyer Post (Oceanside, Calif./Vista) each interned for Athletes for Hope in different capacities.
For each of them, it was the team's involvement with Athletes for Hope that piqued their interest in the group.
"When I was in high school, I actually wrote a research paper on non-profit organizations because I thought it was something I wanted to pursue a career in one day," Higgins said. "It's funny how I'm pursuing a different career path now (she's a kinesiology major), but still found myself working with a nonprofit. They are an awesome organization that will make a difference in many lives."
Higgins has served as the team's community outreach coordinator for the last two years, coordinating volunteer opportunities for her team. The Spartans have partnered with a pair of schools in the area.
"I think the most rewarding thing since working with Athletes for Hope over the years has been the relationships I've made in these community schools," Higgins said. "The kids get so excited when they see us come into their school and it reminds us that we are role models. The community does so much to support Michigan State, especially athletics, so I think it's important to give back to the community to build and strengthen relationships for the years to come. Community outreach is a huge passion of mine so being able to work with other people that have that same passion has been awesome."
Higgins spent her time working remotely for Athletes for Hope. She spent a large portion of her time putting together the number of hours, athletes and organizations that the group has worked with in their university program.
"It's been very interesting because I'm able to see the progress that has been made over the last couple of years," she explained. "It helps to give a true sense for the organizations and people that are being positively affected by Athletes for Hope. You can see you're making a difference."
Ackers, meanwhile, spent her time interning for Athletes for Hope: Starlight. The Starlight Children's Foundation focuses of bringing joy and laughter into a child's life when they are going through a difficult medical issue.
"Knowing that I want to go into pediatrics one day, it has been very fulfilling to see how many professional and Olympic athletes want to take the time to go visit a child in a hospital just to try and brighten their day," Ackers said. "Starlight has constantly been finding new ways to make children's hospital stays a little better too, such as just personalizing their hospital gowns."
From her home outside of Philadelphia, Ackers worked with athletes from the NBA, NFL and the Olympics to help arrange their personal visits.
"It has been great learning from Starlight and getting the chance to work with people who are so passionate about who they are working with," she said. "Seeing Starlight's progress with organizing visits for these athletes all around the country has been amazing."
Post, meanwhile, spent a portion of her summer working with the colleges that are part of the Athletes for Hope University (AFHU) program. MSU, is one of only 11 nationally and one of Post's responsibilities was to find outreach opportunities for schools near her home, Cal State Fullerton and the University of Southern California.
"I researched a few different places and have been their contact in building connections for the upcoming school year," she said. "I've also done grant research on national and state grants for the AFHU schools across the U.S. and working alongside my fellow interns to design a manual for future interns."
Like many, it was her opportunity to interact with kids on a visit that made the most impact, which she did when she joined USA women's rugby player Ryan Carlyle recently at the Rady Children's Hospital in San Diego.
"She is one of AFH's partners and it was a great experience to be able to help behind the scenes," Post said. "Community service has always been important in my life and being able to attend her visit was a great experience. I love working with children and being able to spend the day helping Ryan throughout her visit was just one of the best memories with Athletes for Hope."
For each of them, the opportunity to spend the summer working with Athletes for Hope from behind the scenes only enhanced their feelings for the program.
"My internship with Athletes for Hope inspired me to build more connections and continue to do outreach both while home in California and while at school at MSU," Post said. "I hope to be able to continue and grown the outreach that Bailey (Higgins) has done throughout her time on campus and with our team. It's been one of the most rewarding opportunities I've had since coming to Michigan State."
Athletes for Hope is a non-profit organization founded in 2007 by a group of professional athletes – including Muhammad Ali, Mia Hamm and Cal Ripken Jr. – who shared a deep commitment to giving back. It has grown from its original founds to more than 4,000 athletes across many sports leagues.
Among those athletes are the MSU field hockey team, which has partnered with Athletes for Hope over the last few years. This past summer, senior back Bailey Higgins (Louisville, Ky./Assumption), junior back Hannah Ackers (White Haven, Pa./Crestwood) and sophomore Sawyer Post (Oceanside, Calif./Vista) each interned for Athletes for Hope in different capacities.
For each of them, it was the team's involvement with Athletes for Hope that piqued their interest in the group.
"When I was in high school, I actually wrote a research paper on non-profit organizations because I thought it was something I wanted to pursue a career in one day," Higgins said. "It's funny how I'm pursuing a different career path now (she's a kinesiology major), but still found myself working with a nonprofit. They are an awesome organization that will make a difference in many lives."
Higgins has served as the team's community outreach coordinator for the last two years, coordinating volunteer opportunities for her team. The Spartans have partnered with a pair of schools in the area.
"I think the most rewarding thing since working with Athletes for Hope over the years has been the relationships I've made in these community schools," Higgins said. "The kids get so excited when they see us come into their school and it reminds us that we are role models. The community does so much to support Michigan State, especially athletics, so I think it's important to give back to the community to build and strengthen relationships for the years to come. Community outreach is a huge passion of mine so being able to work with other people that have that same passion has been awesome."
Higgins spent her time working remotely for Athletes for Hope. She spent a large portion of her time putting together the number of hours, athletes and organizations that the group has worked with in their university program.
"It's been very interesting because I'm able to see the progress that has been made over the last couple of years," she explained. "It helps to give a true sense for the organizations and people that are being positively affected by Athletes for Hope. You can see you're making a difference."
Ackers, meanwhile, spent her time interning for Athletes for Hope: Starlight. The Starlight Children's Foundation focuses of bringing joy and laughter into a child's life when they are going through a difficult medical issue.
"Knowing that I want to go into pediatrics one day, it has been very fulfilling to see how many professional and Olympic athletes want to take the time to go visit a child in a hospital just to try and brighten their day," Ackers said. "Starlight has constantly been finding new ways to make children's hospital stays a little better too, such as just personalizing their hospital gowns."
From her home outside of Philadelphia, Ackers worked with athletes from the NBA, NFL and the Olympics to help arrange their personal visits.
"It has been great learning from Starlight and getting the chance to work with people who are so passionate about who they are working with," she said. "Seeing Starlight's progress with organizing visits for these athletes all around the country has been amazing."
Post, meanwhile, spent a portion of her summer working with the colleges that are part of the Athletes for Hope University (AFHU) program. MSU, is one of only 11 nationally and one of Post's responsibilities was to find outreach opportunities for schools near her home, Cal State Fullerton and the University of Southern California.
"I researched a few different places and have been their contact in building connections for the upcoming school year," she said. "I've also done grant research on national and state grants for the AFHU schools across the U.S. and working alongside my fellow interns to design a manual for future interns."
Like many, it was her opportunity to interact with kids on a visit that made the most impact, which she did when she joined USA women's rugby player Ryan Carlyle recently at the Rady Children's Hospital in San Diego.
"She is one of AFH's partners and it was a great experience to be able to help behind the scenes," Post said. "Community service has always been important in my life and being able to attend her visit was a great experience. I love working with children and being able to spend the day helping Ryan throughout her visit was just one of the best memories with Athletes for Hope."
For each of them, the opportunity to spend the summer working with Athletes for Hope from behind the scenes only enhanced their feelings for the program.
"My internship with Athletes for Hope inspired me to build more connections and continue to do outreach both while home in California and while at school at MSU," Post said. "I hope to be able to continue and grown the outreach that Bailey (Higgins) has done throughout her time on campus and with our team. It's been one of the most rewarding opportunities I've had since coming to Michigan State."
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