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Oakland, Calif. – In a show of support and dedication to the Bay Area community, the San Francisco women's basketball team participated in the third annual Fit for Life Jog-a-thon and Health Fair at the Northern Light School in Oakland on Oct. 27.
The Dons, which have partnered with the Northern Light School regularly in recent seasons, interacted with the students in a variety of fun events designed to engage participants in fitness while celebrating the successes of the school.
"Our team did a fantastic job at the Northern Light School in Oakland,” USF coach
Jennifer Azzi said. “They led the kids in a warm-up and then joined them for a jog-a-thon fundraiser.”
Along with with jogging and calisthenics, the USF players and staff hit the court for a little basketball and even danced “Gangnam Style” with the students. In addition to this recent event, the Dons and the Northern Light School join together for other activities as well.
USF also welcomes Northern Light students to campus to take in a game and celebrate with a pizza party, and the Dons participate in other community service projects at the school throughout the year.
During the 2010-11 season, USF won the NCAA-sponsored “Pack the House” Challenge and provided its $500 monetary award to Northern Light to be used in the construction of a multi-sport playing surface and facility at the school. After a two-year stint as WCC champions in the “Pack the House” Challenge, Portland claimed the prize last year. In 2013, the Dons look to regain the Challenge title and earn money for area charities.
Azzi's partnership with Northern stems in part from the inspiration the school's students provide to the Dons.
“The students at Northern Light have an outstanding track record for real world success,” Azzi noted. “Their college graduation rate is 100 percent, and the graduates include a Navy Seal! They are certainly an inspirational group."
The school with students from kindergarten through eighth grade is designed with a focus to develop a diverse student body from traditional and alternative families in all socioeconomic levels, a variety of cultural backgrounds and academic abilities to create a “real world” environment.
The expansive diversity allows the NLS to provide a high-quality learning environment for the students while considering the academic, emotional, physical and spiritual needs of children who would not otherwise have the opportunity for a private education.
