By: NYSPHSAA Staff
LATHAM, NY - The New York State Public High School Athletic Association Inc. (NYSPHSAA) announces Elwood/John Glenn High School (Section XI) as the Spring 2024 Community Service Challenge winner. This is the first award for Elwood/John Glenn HS in the 12 years NYSPHSAA has conducted the Community Service Challenge, which is presented by partner NYCM Insurance.
Seeing the need for more opportunities for fellow classmates with disabilities, students at Elwood/John Glenn High School raised $5,000 to expand their districts Unified Sports programs. With a vision beyond the high school, the goal to add more athletic programming trickled down to the middle and elementary schools in the district with the ‘Blooming Buddies’ program.
"By bringing these programs down to the elementary and middle school levels, we open up opportunities for students with and without intellectual and developmental disabilities to connect at an earlier age", said Elwood/John Glenn rising senior Joey Mammolito. “These connections help break barriers and remove stigmas. I am happy to see more and more of my teammates, and other athletes getting involved each year.”
Much of the efforts made to strengthen additional programming for students across the Elwood/John Glenn district has been credited to Mammolito.
“[Mammolito’s] dedication to the Unified Basketball and Bowling Program is commendable. Joey played a key role in establishing the Blooming Buddies Program and has been active in the Athletes for All program.” Said Elwood/John Glenn Athletic Director David Shanahan. “Joey is a young man who certainly has made a difference in the lives of students involved in our Unified Programs.”
Mammolito and Elwood/John Glenn High School will be recognized during a school event at the start of the 2024-2025 school year.
This spring, 6,712 student-athletes participated in 181 community service projects. The 51,900 hours served by student-athletes resulted in a value of $438,551 in time served and raised $201,934 in charitable donations.
“NYSPHSAA is proud of the student-athletes who commit to their district Unified Sports opportunities, and Elwood/John Glenn High School is the ultimate example of what can happen when student-athletes chip in”, said NYSPHSAA Executive Director Dr. Robert Zayas. “We are proud to have student-athletes like Mammolito and his classmates representing NYSPHSAA.”
A winner for the NYSPHSAA Community Service Challenge is selected each season based on submissions made on the Team Up 4 Community platform. This year, student-athletes completed 493 projects and nearing 160,000 hours of service. Over $450,000 was raised for charitable projects during the 2023-2024 school year.
The NYSPHSAA Community Service Challenge will reopen this fall.