Central Islip, N.Y. – After areas of Long Island and Connecticut that are home to its member schools and many of their student-athletes were hit hard by Hurricane Sandy, the East Coast Conference recently joined the effort to aid in the relief from the devastating storm.

In lieu of charging admission at the recently completed Men’s and Women’s Soccer Championships, the ECC opened the gates to all fans and instead asked for donations for the American Red Cross at the gate. Student-workers also went through the crowd with donation buckets throughout each contest at Dowling College where LIU Post hosted two semifinal matchups and the men’s final game, and at the University of Bridgeport where semifinals and the women’s final game were held.

The generosity of the fans in attendance helped the ECC raise over $700 that will go towards helping those most affected by the storm.

“These are obviously tough times for so many people including many of our student-athletes, coaches, and their families and friends,” said ECC Commissioner Bob Dranoff.  “Along with the efforts being made by our member institutions to assist those in need, we are glad we could help even in this small way, with the donation of the monies raised at the soccer games.”

Other ECC member institutions are also doing their part to help out in the aftermath of Sandy. Clothing and food drives are being held by the athletic departments at the University of Bridgeport and New York Institute of Technology.  In addition, members of the volleyball team at Dowling College and student-athletes, administrators and coaches at NYIT have donated time to assist with clean up efforts on Long Island.

At Queens College, student-athletes have gone out of their way to make people currently taking shelter in Fitzgerald Gymnasium feel at home. Whether it is to just visit with the displaced New Yorkers, cleaning up the gym, or even helping walk pets, the Queens student-athletes have spent countless hours in the gym.