MARIETTA, Ohio – The Marietta College Softball team recently raised $3,500 through a raffle and donated the funds to the Mid-Ohio Valley Autism Organization.
"This was important to me because I have a sister with autism who has supported me throughout my entire softball career and has never failed to cheer me on. She has gotten to know the softball team and everyone on the team has accepted her," said sophomore
Allyssa Hagenbaugh (Stow, Ohio/Archbishop Hoban). "This disability is growing bigger and bigger every day, and having a foundation that is able to help and support them is very important. I'm so grateful for my team and all the people who supported this autism foundation. It meant a lot to me and my family."
The Autism Speaks glove is a specifically designed light blue glove made by Wilson. It says Love the Moment on the inside of the pinky and has the hashtag Autism Speaks. Head Softball Coach
Jenn Castle gave
Sam Crowther, the President of the Mid-Ohio Valley Autism Organization, the donation on November, 24th.
Coach Castle said, "We chose the Mid-Ohio Autism Community, Inc to donate our proceeds to because they are directly giving back to local families. This organization is providing opportunities for families that will directly impact their lives."
"The Mid-Ohio Valley Autism Organization is a non-profit agency that provides support services for families with autistic children. These support services include such things as monthly support group meetings," said Crowther, an assistant athletic trainer and faculty member at Marietta College. "Another thing we do is provide quarterly respite nights for the parents. The respite program allows parents to drop off their children at Ewing school for 3 hours and allow the parents an opportunity to do whatever they want for an evening knowing their child is being cared for by a qualified person."
The softball program sold a total of 4,300 raffle tickets and the winner of the Autism Speaks glove was Dave Peters.
The Mid-Ohio Valley Autism Organization is an agency of the Mid-Ohio Valley United Way, and also receives funding from the Marietta Community foundation. By receiving outside donations like this, it allows them to be less dependent on the United Way and Marietta Community Foundation, so this donation indirectly supports these agencies as well.
Fans can follow the Pioneers all season long at
pioneers.marietta.edu. You can also follow the Pioneers on Facebook at
facebook.com/MariettaCollege and @MariettaPioneer on Twitter and Instagram.
