Living The Motto: Women’s Track & Field Makes Difference in Community, Assists Smith Family Foundation
10/26/2020
PRINCETON, N.J. – The Princeton University women’s track & field team have been embodying the motto “In the Nation’s Service and In the Service of Humanity” in recent months, volunteering with the Smith Family Foundation in Trenton to make a difference in the community.
“We were looking for a service opportunity for the team and somewhere local where we could develop a long-term relationship,” said head coach Michelle Eisenreich. “Harry Lord ‘20 and Gab Montefalcone ‘20 had found the Smith Family Foundation and done a little work for them over the summer. Alexandra Munson was living with them and introduced me to the Foundation and it went from there.
Service is one of our core values as a department. The issues stemming from racial inequity are at the forefront right now and we didn’t want to just talk about it, we wanted concrete action items.”
The Smith Family Foundation is a private grant-making Institution, founded in Trenton in 2016. Its mission is to:
Empower our community, cultivate leaders and transform lives by providing funding and Transformative Leadership Development to Trenton based organizations.
One of the recent initiatives the team was involved was a fundraiser to provide 2000+ underprivileged kids with headphones to enhance their virtual learning experience at home.
“You just don't know the impact these headphones are having,” said Smith Family Foundation board member Tyrell Smith. “Teachers, principals and students are super excited that they are getting these headphones. This was a real game changer for a lot of kids this year thank you so much I really mean that!”
The Tigers have also assisted with distributing care packages to a number of 2020 graduates heading off to college and provided support setting up for a “Get Out The Vote” event in Trenton.
The Smith Family Foundation also provides a tutoring program for middle school, high school and recent high school graduates in college called “Path Way To Students Success” that Eisenreich is planning on having the team involved with.
Munson emphasized the Tigers' desire to make its relationship with the Smith Family Foundation long-term.
“When I was first talking with Tyrell to coordinate our interests in the Smith Family Foundation, I was humbled by his excitement and enthusiasm at the prospect of our team joining the foundation's efforts,” explained Munson. “My goal when undertaking any service initiative is to always create significant, positive personal connections, and to participate in activities to make small, meaningful changes that will lead to a lasting impact. Not only has this been an exciting new way to unite our team remotely, but this service initiative has created a unique relationship that allows the team to understand and connect with local communities. As a team, we are excited to keep participating in the various events and fundraisers that the Smith Family Foundation organizes and working with them in the coming years.”
More on the Smith Family Foundation can be found HERE.
