INSYNCH
A BETTER WORLD
TEAMS STEP UP TO GIVE BACK TO THEIR COMMUNITIES
by LESLIE GRAHAM, DIRECTOR OF SYNCHRONIZED
SKATING AT U.S. FIGURE SKATING T rough multiple acts of kindness, skaters
remind us that the holiday season is not only about receiving, but about giving back. Synchro- nized skating teams have found many unique ways to give to those in need within their com- munities. Below are eight synchronized skating programs and teams that have volunteered for unique nonprofi t organizations throughout the year.
Allegro!
Big Sunday. Big Sunday, a Los Angeles-based organiza-
tion, works to build community through com- munity service. Its volunteers come from all kinds of neighborhoods and work in all sorts of neighborhoods, too. T e idea is that everyone can help somebody else in some way.
ALLEGRO! NOVICE PLYMOUTH, MICHIGAN
THE DESERT ANGEL T e Allegro! novice team is taking the theme
of “random acts of kindness” from the ice into its community. In August, Allegro! began its com- munity work with the Michigan-based program Desert Angels. Desert Angels collects, packs and mails items to our troops. With help from the other teams within the
Allegro! organization, the skaters made a total of 68 cards to be sent to U.S. servicemembers. Desert Angels always includes words of encour- agement and hope in every care package, and Al- legro! was happy to be a part of this project.
CALIFORNIA GOLD JUVENILE ALL YEAR FSC
BIG SUNDAY Around T anksgiving, the California
Gold juvenile team organized and participated in a food drive. Skaters collected and brought in items to donate. T ey bagged the food and passed it out on behalf of the local nonprofi t
48 FEBRUARY 2016
CREATIVE EDGE INTERMEDIATE LAKELAND FSC
FLEECE & THANK YOU Creative Edge synchronized skating teams
in Waterford, Michigan, made blankets to do- nate to Fleece & T ank You, an organization in Detroit whose mission is to ensure that a colorful fl eece blanket is waiting on the hospital bed for every child beginning an extended-stay treat- ment.
Fleece & T ank You believes that colorful blankets bring comfort to the children by mak- ing hospital rooms feel more like home. One of Creative Edge’s current skaters received a fl eece blanket while hospitalized, a blanket that she treasures to this day. T e skater was excited to be able to make a blanket for another child. Addi- tionally, the brother of another skater received a blanket while he was in the hospital. Many of the Creative Edge families can understand fi rsthand the comfort that these blankets bring. All of the Creative Edge skaters made a
California Gold Creative Edge
fl eece blanket to donate. In addition to the blan- ket, the skaters made a video to send with their blanket that is shown to the child as a personal message of inspiration. Making these blankets is a way for the skaters to give back to, and support someone going through a diffi cult time.
PHILADELPHIA SYMMETRY WISSAHICKON SC
SARA’S SMILES FOUNDATION Philadelphia Symmetry and Liberty FSC
of Philadelphia believe in creating a community grounded in human kindness. T is season their skaters have participated in multiple community service projects. One of their projects was through the Sara’s
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