FRESNO, Calif. -- In the bustling world of student-athletes at Fresno State, where practices and games consume their daily lives, there's one initiative that transcends the realm of sports and touches the lives of children facing chronic illnesses. Fresno State's partnership with Team IMPACT is creating waves of positivity, fostering a profound impact on both the children involved and the student-athletes themselves.
Team IMPACT is an organization dedicated to matching children with chronic illnesses with collegiate sports teams across the country, transforming them into honorary athletes. Through this initiative, these brave kids are offered a chance to experience something far beyond the confines of their usual routines, granting them the opportunity to partake in the excitement of collegiate athletics.
Currently, three teams within Fresno State Athletics have formed heartwarming connections with three remarkable children. Men's basketball has embraced Jacob, baseball is proudly partnered with Andrew, and football shares its camaraderie with Jace. These matches are about more than just a title; they create an unforgettable experience that leaves lasting impressions.
One of these touching connections is between Cooper Bergman, a member of Fresno State's baseball team, and Andrew. The team and Andrew's interactions have ventured beyond the ballpark, with outings like attending basketball games, hitting the batting cages, and even visiting the Valley Children's Hospital, orchestrated by Andrew and his family. During their visit, they spent quality time with other children, some of whom were Andrew's friends. Bergman recalls, "It was the coolest thing; he set up a lemonade stand outside of his house and used all those proceeds to make little gift bag stuff for every kid." Bergman emphasizes that Team IMPACT has brought immeasurable joy not only to Andrew and his family but also to himself. Through this experience, he's gained a profound perspective on the positive impact that this partnership has made on everyone involved.
Yasmin Roman, a member of the Bulldog equestrian team, is not only a fellow with Team IMPACT but also serves on the Student Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC). Her involvement with Team IMPACT has been nothing short of transformative. When she's not busy riding or studying, Roman alongside other fellows is fervently working to raise funds for the organization, planning events, and staying connected with her fellow student-athletes who are part of these incredible matches. Roman notes, "Right now, Team IMPACT is trying to become a household name. The majority of what we are doing is around promoting and educating people on what it is."
Roman, though mostly engaged in behind-the-scenes work, has witnessed firsthand the far-reaching impact of this organization. Roman recounts her experience at a Team IMPACT Summit in Boston, where she had the privilege of spending time with children and their parents and hearing about their transformative journeys with the program.
Roman recalls a touching moment when a mother shared her feelings about her child's interaction with the soccer team, saying, "She couldn't have asked for anything better than that dinner with the soccer team to make him smile and laugh on one of the hardest days he had had in a really long time." Romans' commitment to helping others and her hands-on work with Team IMPACT have enriched her life and taught her that the organization offers endless opportunities for growth and learning.
Roman emphasizes that the Valley community can greatly benefit from this initiative, stating, "In the Valley, that's something we need right now. We are for the Valley, and everybody in the Valley is for each other, and this is just another thing that we need to be for each other for."
Team IMPACT has illuminated the lives of these student-athletes and their young counterparts. Carlie Corrigan, Fresno State's Director of Student-Athlete Development, shares a memorable moment from her Team IMPACT experiences, "Seeing the football team at their signing day, that was really cool, to see the joy it brought them to be able to help this little boy who may not ever be able to put a helmet on, and just the awe they had about being involved with that group. In the beginning, the kid was nervous, and by the end, he kept smiling with them, and that's the whole point."
This initiative has not only allowed the student-athletes and fellows to make a difference but also enabled them to gain a different perspective on life, one filled with compassion and empathy. In this unique partnership, they have found a source of inspiration that transcends the realm of sports, becoming beaming lights in the lives of children who need them most.