SXU Football Team Visits Patients at Children's Hospital
Members of the Saint Xavier University (SXU) football team recently visited patients at the Advocate Children's Hospital in Oak Lawn, Ill. The team divided into three groups to spend time with patients and hand out gifts.
Head coach Mike Feminis first took his team to Advocate Children's Hospital in 2011 for volunteer work, but this year's visit had a deeper meaning. Former [2005] SXU football player Nick Mayerik's son, Eddie, was born with congenital heart disease and passed away at the age of eight after spending the majority of his life at Advocate Children's Hospital and other hospitals. Eddie's passing encouraged Mayerik and his wife, Jen, to start the Eddie Mayerik Foundation, which supports the needs of heart families and advances congenital heart disease research.
Mayerik spoke with the football team last August during fall camp and asked if members would be interested in visiting the hospital. Feminis jumped at the opportunity and planned the visit ahead of the team's annual Spring Scrimmage held at Bruce R. Deaton Memorial Field.
"We were happy and honored to do so. For our players, it was such a humbling, feel-good experience to bring some joy to kids who are struggling and suffering daily," Feminis said.
Since Feminis took over the football program in 1999, he has made it a point for his players to step outside of their comfort zone, away from the game, and make an impact in their community in some capacity.
In addition to recently helping out at SXU's Service Day, the team has a long list of service activities, including cleaning up around camps, Mount Greenwood Park, Lake Katherine Nature Center and the Botanic Gardens in Palos Heights.
The Cougars have also handed out candy at Misericordia, loaded a Port Ministries bread truck and more than 600 boxes of donated items for the people of Ukraine, packaged items for the Crisis Center of South Suburbia, SWADDLE, Cradles to Crayons, Greater Chicago Food Depository, made cards for BRIDGES and LaRabida Children's Hospital, and held a children's football camp at the Salvation Army Ray and Joan Kroc Corp Community Center.
"I have always felt it is extremely important to give back to the community, and there are always many opportunities to do so. I believe being a college athlete is a privilege, and it is all about making sacrifices for the betterment of the team. But when you step out of your comfort zone to help others who are less fortunate, it's not only a 'feel-good' experience; it also allows most of us to take a step back and realize that the things we have and take for granted are not the norm for so many people. It's always my hope that our players take these experiences to heart and continue to give back when they leave SXU and start their own families," Feminis said.
Part of Saint Xavier's mission statement is to serve wisely and compassionately in support of human dignity and the common good, and Feminis and his football program have perfectly encapsulated that meaning.