Athletes Collecting Coins for Blue Mountain Humane Society

Alyssa Bader (left), Jenele Peterson and tail-wagging furry friend.

WALLA WALLA, Wash. -- The Whitman College Student Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) is spearheading a Coin Drive to benefit their furry friends at Walla Walla's Blue Mountain Humane Society.

Student athletes from Whitman's varsity teams are collecting coins all week.

For those who want to hand over their coins to a good cause, collection containers are located in Sherwood Athletic Center, Reid Campus Center and campus residence halls.

In addition, gate receipts from next Tuesday's home basketball games against Whitworth will be added to the Coin Drive.

The women's game starts at 6 p.m. Tuesday in Sherwood Center with the men's game to follow at 8 p.m.

Earlier this year, SAAC organized a Varsity Athlete Service Day in which athletes took turns walking dogs around town while encouraging people to consider pet adoption.

"We also helped the Humane Society get dogs ready for the winter parade down Main Street," SAAC co-president Jenele Peterson said.

Dog-walking women's golf team (l-r): Kelly Sweeney, Catelyn Webber, Sarah Debs, Caitlin Holland, Tate Head.

Varsity athletes "really enjoyed" that earlier work, Peterson said, and so decided to use its annual campus-wide Coin Drive to benefit the Humane Society.

The SAAC organization includes representatives from each of Whitman's 14 varsity sports teams.

The group is advised by Michelle Ferenz, the senior women's administrator in the athletic department and head coach of the women's basketball team.

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CONTACT: Dave Holden
Sports Information Director
Whitman College, Walla Walla, Wash.
509 527-5902; holden@whitman.edu