Toros dance to raise funds for Make-A-Wish

Carson --- CSUDH athletes representing all 11 sports took time to exchange their sweat pants and t-shirts for suits and dresses and trade in gloves and headbands for purses and pearls just in time for the inaugural Toros Student-Athlete Ball this past Saturday, an event sponsored by CSUDH’s Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) and hosted by long-time corporate partner the Holiday Inn of Torrance last Saturday.
 
Nearly 150 students athletes made their way onto the dance floor, spilling onto the adjacent stage from 8:00 pm to 1:00 am, with beats provided by the Moonshinerz. 

“The formal went off without a hitch, and it was better than I imagined,” began SAAC advisor and CSUDH Assistant Athletics Director Lamel Harris, who served of one of the evenings chaperones.  “Usually when we get all of the athletes together for something we’re asking of them to help with an event, so it was a nice change to see them together having a really, really good time.”

The evening of dancing and socializing was capped off with the volleyball’s Denise Herrera and men’s basketball’s Trevon Bryant being named Mr. & Mrs. Toro, as voted on by their fellow athletes at the dance.

“It really brought all of the different sports teams together, and everyone was there to just have a good time,” begins Jessica Foerster, a junior on the softball team.  “It was nice to see everyone in nice dresses and outfits and not in dirty uniforms and sports gear,” interjects her freshman teammate Michelle Miranda.

In addition to getting the opportunity the let their collective hair down and dance the night away, the event served as a way to help raise money for the Make-A-Wish Foundation, which Toros Athletics has proudly supported for the past two years.
 
“We were able to accomplish two goals with the event,” said four-year SAAC member Ree Browne, a member of the women’s basketball team.  “We provided a venue for the student-athletes to dance, and with the proceeds helping children in need, we turned having a good time into a way to give back.” 

SAAC is comprised of two members from all 11 sports teams and is governed and directed completely by the student-athletes, with only a representative from the Toros athletic staff serving as an advisor.  The members meet once a month to discus issues facing student-athletes and to coordinate community outreach projects.