St. John’s Athletes Welcome Area Special-Needs Students

Eager to give back to a deserving community, St. John’s University student-athletes welcomed more than 300 special-needs children from New York City schools to the Queens, NY, campus for a day of sports-based fun on April 23.

Nearly 100 athletes from the Baseball, Men’s and Women’s Basketball, Men’s and Women’s Soccer, Women’s Volleyball, and Men’s Lacrosse teams entertained elementary school-aged students as the University opened its doors to Community Mayors for Children with Special Needs. This Brooklyn-NY-based nonprofit provides emotionally, mentally, and physically challenged children with experiences that stimulate their interests and lift their spirits. 

“It is a blessing for us to get the chance to do this,” Red Storm Men’s Basketball player Sadiku Ibine Ayo said, while putting a group of students through shooting drills at Taffner Field House.  “Life can be stressful when you play college basketball, but working with these kids makes you recognize how fortunate you are.”     

The University’s Athletics Department has partnered with Community Mayors for more than a decade. The most recent event brought more than 30 busloads of students to St. John’s for lighthearted competition at Belson Stadium, Jack Kaiser Stadium, and in Taffner.

The visiting students spent time with athletes from each sport, including Men’s Lacrosse, where many picked up a lacrosse stick for the first time. They watched as captain Brian Kelly offered  shooting, stickhandling, and goaltending pointers.

“It is for Community Mayors, and Queens is our community,” Brian said. “It is easy to get caught up in the opportunity that we have, but to put a smile on the faces of these kids is super rewarding.”   

Among those soccer players volunteering their time was sophomore midfielder Stephanie Cornelius. Wearing a leg brace after surgery to repair a torn knee ligament, Stephanie said her postoperative limitations are frustrating, but added, “I can’t imagine how some of these children feel.”

“As an athlete, it is easy to get so focused on yourself, your development, and even on winning games,” Stephanie continued. “But sports is so much more than that.”

“To have these kids out on the field doing what we love and seeing how they enjoy it is inspiring,” teammate Molly McGlame added.

As dozens of visiting children took turns shooting, dribbling, and playing goalkeeper, Associate Athletics Director and Men’s Soccer Head Coach David Masur ’03Ed.D. noted how eager his players were to participate. Many were on the field well before the visiting students’ arrival, setting up the field and placing nets.

“St. John’s is part of the fabric of New York City and Community Mayors is part of the fabric of the New York City school system,” Dr. Masur said. “This is the heart and soul of what we are as a University.”

Over on the baseball field, St. John’s players taught the visiting students the basics of batting, base running, and throwing. Pitcher Jed Boyle played catch with a few students and noted how the Community Mayors event is “unique to St. John’s and a part of its Vincentian mission.”

“Being in our position as St. John’s athletes, it is always nice to give back to the community,” Jed added.     

Speech-language pathologist Bellkis Fuentes of P 811Q in Little Neck, NY, watched as her students challenged St. John’s soccer players, putting a few past Bjorn Nikolajewski, a defender who volunteered to play goal.

“It is more than just the chance to play sports,” Ms. Fuentes said. “It is also the socializing and the ability to engage with others. What they are learning in their physical education classrooms, they can apply it now.”

According to Chief Financial Officer Kenneth Honig, the visit to St. John’s is one of the highlights of the Community Mayors’ annual calendar.

“These children get to be regular kids for a day,” Mr. Honig said. “It has been a great partnership that has grown over the years. I joked with the soccer coaches that they are coaching Division I players and our kids in wheelchairs are scoring on them.”   

Watch a video from the event.