Raising Funds for the Hudson Valley Special Olympics
Bard College student-athletes contribute to the Special Olympics New York program every year, volunteering with local agencies, hosting a Special Olympics Day on campus, and raising money to support athletes. The Bard College Student Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) guides these efforts. The Committee is composed of two student athletes from each of Bard’s 19 intercollegiate athletic programs, in addition to three student officers. More than 300 Bard College varsity athletes contributed to the Special Olympics program in 2017–18, raising more than $4,000 for the Special Olympics.
The Nourish Your Neighbor Food Drive
The Nourish Your Neighbor Food Drive is a joint effort of Bard organizers and community partners that takes place during the holiday season. Bard student-athletes are leaders in the campus-wide effort to contribute to this important local effort. In 2018, Bard College donated well over 1,000 nonperishable food items, eclipsing the previous year's campus total. Combined with the efforts of local partners, the 2018 drive collected about 7,000 items for families in need.