The Harbor Springs U-13 girls’ soccer team presented a donation of funds raised to staff members of the Women’s Resource Center of Northern Michigan (WRCNM).  The group also donated a multitude of non-perishables and household supplies to the agency’s domestic abuse Safe Home.  Pictured above are (front row, from left):  Laura Graham, Chloe Hogan, Laenie Backus and Alyssa Hunt; (middle row, from left) Clara Pater, Madison Hunt, Alison Fought, Erika Crandell, Martha Johnson, Jilian Spierling, Ally Hoffman and Ellie Fleming; (back row, from left) Chris Krajewski, Domestic Abuse and Sexual Assault Program Director; Cindy Hunt, coach; Anne Fleming, coach; and Jan Mancinelli, WRCNM Executive Director.  Team members not pictured: Emma Wagner, Lauren Johansen, Madi Bezilla and Adriana Kirby.

The Women’s Resource Center of Northern Michigan (WRCNM) received an especially meaningful donation from a group of high energy young women on the Harbor Springs U-13 girls’ soccer team.  The donation was also part of the 26 Acts of Kindness to commemorate and honor those who lost their lives in the Sandy Hook massacre; a concept initiated by Ann Curry of NBC News after the tragedy in Newton, Connecticut this past December. 
The soccer team comprised of girls in sixth and seventh grades and coached by Cindy Hunt and Anne Fleming, arrived at the WRCNM’s administrative office wearing tee shirts emblazoned with “Feel the Power – Act NOW” and the number 26 on their shirtsleeves.  What is unique about this group is that Hunt and Fleming not only coach teamwork, formations, conditioning and other aspects of playing competitive soccer, but also intertwine the concept of giving back through community service projects.

In the past the group has helped out at the Manna Food Project and has sung and spread good cheer at Bay Bluffs -Emmet County Medical Care Facility.  This year, the close-knit team decided to fundraise on behalf of the Women’s Resource Center and Safe Home.  Their face-to-face fundraising was done with friends, family, neighbors and within the Harbor Springs business community.  Their efforts resulted in a donation of more than $2,845 and a multitude of non-perishables and household goods for the WRCNM’s domestic abuse Safe Home.

“This is an incredible effort on behalf of these young people,” said Jan Mancinelli, WRCNM Executive Director.  “To see this type of mindset, attitude and effort is awesome, it makes you think to yourself, ‘if this is what our young people are doing, there really is hope for our future!’”  Mancinelli praised the coaches for including education, a sense of community and empowerment as a part of their soccer program.

“We just brought in a speaker, Joe Ehrmann, for the North Central Michigan College Lecture Series who had a very powerful message about helping young athletes become the best they can be—on the field and in life—through building positive, healthy relationships and having a cause beyond themselves,” said Mancinelli.  “This is definitely a prime example of that concept.”

During the fundraiser for the Women’s Center the team was encouraged and assisted by mothers of the players, including Lora Backus, Lisa Fought, Kathy Crandell and Joli Hoffman; as well as a sister of one of the players, Brynn Backus.