SAAC gives back, makes local wish come true
Laughter and excitement filled the air in the Elmen Center on Saturday, April 19, as Augustana athletes made the day for Sioux Falls’ families. The building was filled with face-painting stations, yard games and bounce houses for the families to enjoy.
Augustana’s Student-Athlete Advisory Committee collaborated with Make-A-Wish to create a “Family Fun Day” for local Make-A-Wish children and their families. With the help of over 25 athletes from the dance, cheer, baseball, acrobatics and tumbling, wrestling and football teams, the day was a complete success.
Some highlights of the day included stunts from the cheer team, a big bounce house and an Easter egg hunt out on the baseball field. The children also watched the Augustana women’s softball team take on Winona State at Bowden Field. Along with the fun activities, local food trucks were parked outside of the Elmen so the families could grab a bite to eat.
In total, SAAC invited around 500 families to the “Family Fun Day;” however, the student athletes were more concerned with the quality of the event rather than the number of families that showed up.
“Quite frankly, one family was more than plenty,” Kenneth Lenger, senior SAAC president and wrestler, said.
To him, it was more about giving back to the community that supports Augustana athletes in a way that was meaningful and authentic.
SAAC was able to do exactly that.
“I think that the turnout that we had was great,” senior Annika Meyer, SAAC board member and cheerleader, said. “We were really able to individually connect with each family and with each kid, which made it really special.”
After the “Family Fun Day,” SAAC was excited to hear feedback from the families that attended the event. According to Meyer, the responses that they received were positive.
“One family specifically was like, ‘My kids can’t stop talking about it, and they want to go to this again,’” Meyer said. “They felt so special — not only the Wish kids but also the sibling of the Wish kid who often gets overlooked or forgotten about.”
The excitement didn’t end on April 19. On Friday, April 25, SAAC granted a wish for a six-year-old girl named Lena during the National Collegiate Acrobatics and Tumbling Association national championship tournament. As Lena walked through a tunnel of Augustana athletes out onto the tumbling mat with Ole the Viking and Meyer by her side, she couldn’t contain her excitement. Waiting for her was a giant check; Augustana SAAC raised $20,000 to grant Lena’s wish and send her and her family to Disney World.
The amount of time and effort put into these events is worth recognizing.
“Kenneth and Annika do such an awesome job for SAAC as well as for Augutana,” Kimberly Miller, SAAC adviser and senior associate athletics director for compliance, said. “It’s straight kudos to them for what they have done to make this happen.”
Augustana SAAC continues to represent the school well by setting up these amazing events that can change a life forever. By creating genuine connections and providing unforgettable experiences, SAAC shows its commitment to service and leadership both on the field and in the community.
