Living The Motto: Members Of Princeton Soccer "Sleep Out" With Covenant House
10/29/2020
Overnight from October 23 to October 24, members of the Princeton men’s and women’s soccer programs joined together across the country to raise awareness about the issue of youth homelessness by participating in Covenant House’s 2020 Sleep Out.
Each year, Covenant House organizes a Sleep Out where participants spend the night outside to gain perspective on the issues surrounding youth homelessness and raise funds to support Covenant House’s initiatives geared towards housing and supporting young boys and girls in need. Typically, the Sleep Out events are organized in a group fashion at Covenant House sites across the United State and Canada. This year, as with most large events, the programming was moved to a virtual setting with those involved doing so from their back yard and joining in on Zoom discussions throughout the event.
The soccer programs have a special tie to Covenant House New Jersey through alum Wayne Paglieri ’78, former President of the Friends of Princeton Soccer, who serves as Senior Development Manager. Over the past few weeks, both programs have heard from Wayne about the work Covenant House is doing. As a result, student athletes from both teams were eager to find a way to participate.
“The work Covenant House is doing is so impactful,” said head men’s soccer coach Jim Barlow ’91. “There aren’t many positives coming out of this global pandemic, but it has given all of us a chance to reflect on how fortunate we are to be at Princeton, and an opportunity to expand our horizons and learn more about the world around us. There are so many ways the members of our programs can make a difference. After Wayne educated our group on how many young men and women – not much different in age than the players themselves – are homeless and need support, it didn’t take very long for players to sign up for the Sleep Out and rally behind this cause.”
Thus, the “Tiger Community” was formed among the supporters participating in the virtual 2020 Sleep Out. Ultimately, 38 individuals and families comprised of members of the men’s and women’s soccer programs banded together and raised over $21,000 for Covenant House.
“When Jim brought the Sleep Out and its mission in raising money to support Covenant House to my attention, I was excited to mention the initiative to our team,” said women’s soccer head coach Sean Driscoll. “Given the character and empathy of our student-athletes, it came as no surprise that so many of them rallied around the notion of fundraising to aid homeless youth. While we all recognize that one night of being uncomfortable is a far cry from the realities these individuals experience, it did provide needed awareness to this awful situation and a desire to do more in the future. We are grateful to Covenant House and their commitment to help so many young adults start a new chapter in their lives.”
The soccer student-athletes know that their participation in Sleep Out was a first step in their involvement with Covenant House, but are focused on continuing that relationship.
Alex Charles reflects on his participation in the Sleep Out to support @CovenantHouseNJ with fellow members of the Princeton Soccer programs. pic.twitter.com/q1d3IkaoT3
— Princeton Men’s Soccer (@TigerMensSoccer) October 29, 2020
“The Sleep Out in support of the teen homelessness crisis was an important experience for the teams,” said men’s soccer forward Ryan Winkler. “It was a very eye-opening experience. Spending even one night outside was educational in terms of what so many young men and women go through who are homeless. We have a starting point in understanding the struggles involved in this global problem and are committed to staying involved at our local levels and especially in New Jersey with Covenant House.”
For the student-athletes, an opportunity to embrace Princeton’s motto of “In the nation’s service and in the service of all humanity” was important.
"The Sleep Out was a very humbling and enlightening night,” said women’s soccer defender Tatum Gee. “The virtual event enabled us to connect with so many amazing people involved and touched by the work done at Covenant House, as well as educate ourselves with the issues that drive youth homelessness. I am grateful my team got the opportunity to support an organization that provides so much for homeless youth around the world and look forward to doing it again in the future."
For more on Covenant House and the Sleep Out, click here.
