Unifying Concordia for a cause
The Concordia Caribbean Student Union (CCSU) and the International and Ethnic Associations Council (I/EAC) are teaming up to organize the second annual Unifying Concordia charity soccer tournament. The event invites student associations on campus to put together a team and head out to the Stinger Dome on Saturday, March 24 for a friendly game of soccer.
Marvin Coleby, chairman of the I/EAC, and Yuri Wilkie, president of the CCSU, came up with the idea last year while working together for the CCSU. “Marvin and I always spoke about doing something that would have an impact at the university,” says Wilkie. “The tournament is all about bringing the school together while doing something good for the community at large. It’s something we are both passionate about.”
“We wanted to organize an activity that would bring the different associations on campus together,” adds Coleby. “We wanted a universal, uniting sport, so we chose soccer and we decided to donate all proceeds to a charitable cause.” The money raised this year will go to support the Share the Warmth Foundation, a local charity that combats poverty and hunger.
Last year’s tournament was a real success, raising $800 for the Montreal Children’s Hospital Foundation, and the organizers hope to top it this time. “Last year, we had 18 teams sign up,” says Coleby. “Over 200 people showed up to the event, including players and supporters. There was a great dynamic.”
While some teams showed up to have fun and support the cause, others were in it to win. The Concordia University Tamil Mantram (CUTAM) and the Syrian Students Association were last year’s finalists, battling it out until the last hour. Finally, CUTAM won the tournament earning their name on the championship trophy.
“This type of event is important because we brag about our school being very diversified and having so many cultures,” says Wilkie. “We noticed that the student leaders interact a lot more than the students themselves. So it’s about getting the students to know each other, and realizing that we are all from different backgrounds but we share similarities.”
Anyone can register for the Unifying Concordia soccer tournament as long as their team is represented by one of Concordia’s student associations. Due to time and space limitations, a maximum of 20 teams can register for this year’s event on a first-come first-served basis.
The Unifying Concordia charity soccer tournament is on Saturday, March 24 from 4 p.m. to 11 p.m. in the Stinger Dome on Concordia’s Loyola Campus. A shuttle bus is leaving the downtown campus at 3 p.m. that day.
The deadline to register teams is Friday, March 16. To register, email unifyingconcordia@gmail.com.
Journalism student Sarah Volstad is an intern with Concordia’s University Communications Services. If you are interested in being an intern with UCS, please submit an application before March 23, 2012, to Karen McCarthy, Director of Internal Communications, at karen.mccarthy@concordia.ca.
Related links:
• Unifying Concordia Facebook page
• Concordia Caribbean Student Union
• Share the Warmth Foundation
• Montreal Children’s Hospital Foundation
• Stinger Dome