BEVERLY, Mass. — The Endicott Athletics and Recreation Department and Team IMPACT have agreed to an enhanced commitment to their long-standing relationship via a two-year partnership agreement (2021-22 & 2022-23), as announced by both organizations earlier today.

The two-year agreement will further develop the long-lasting partnership between the two organizations and will be centered around each organization's core values and mission: promoting empathy, resilience, camaraderie, and excellence, while providing a student-athlete development experience focused on the whole person.

Other schools that have agreed to an enhanced two-year partnership with Team IMPACT include Maryland, Springfield, Tufts, and Boston College.

"Endicott College has been part of Team IMPACT from the very beginning in 2011, and is consistently one of the most active and committed campuses in the region," said Ryan Irwin, Team IMPACT's Northeast Regional Executive Director. "Endicott's leadership has made it an institutional priority to ensure Team IMPACT is a core pillar of the student-athlete experience and the outcomes so far have been truly inspiring. This partnership will not only establish more life-long bonds between courageous children, families, and teams, but it will also provide Endicott College and Team IMPACT a larger stage to shine a light on the incredible work being done on campus, spread the word about Team IMPACT's mission and help more children in the community."

Endicott College Assistant Vice President/Director of Athletics Dr. Brian A. Wylie shared similar sentiments to Irwin.

"Endicott has been privileged to have a long-standing relationship with Team IMPACT, as much of the young children and their families' lives have changed for the better because of the organization's tireless work. Through our relationship with Team IMPACT, our Endicott student-athletes and coaches have also been impacted in a way that is so incredibly profound," said Wylie. "We are thrilled to be in this enhanced partnership with Team IMPACT as Endicott College and the Department of Athletics are extremely grateful to be one of a few institutions to lead the next generation of young children through the love and support of sport at Endicott through this partnership."

As for Endicott softball student-athlete and Team IMPACT Fellow Meg Power, her experiences with Team IMPACT have been life-changing.

"Being involved with Team IMPACT has been one of the highlights of my college experience. Since being matched with Kendall, our team has grown so much closer. We are not only playing for one another, but also for Kendall too," said Power. "I am so excited for the partnership between Endicott and Team IMPACT. My hope is this partnership puts every team closer to being matched and getting to share the amazing experience me and my teammates have had with Kendall."

The below initiatives represent several activations that will take place throughout the partnership over the next two years (2021-22 & 2022-23).

• Endicott will maintain or increase its current level of Team IMPACT participation.
• Team IMPACT will actively support/maintain two Team IMPACT student-athlete Fellowship positions on campus. The Gulls currently have two Fellows in Meg Power (softball) and Jack Sutherland (men's lacrosse).
• Team IMPACT will provide exclusive access to student-athlete development opportunities through curriculum-based training on topics such as diversity, equity, inclusion, advocacy, and professional development.
• Endicott will actively use its platform to champion Team IMPACT at the conference and national level.
• Both organizations will work together to provide newly developed fellowship, internship, and student-athlete development initiatives through EC L.E.A.D. (Leaders of the Endicott Athletics Department).

TEAM IMPACT MATCHES

Since 2011, Endicott programs have drafted 13 children through Team IMPACT. The relationships formed between all parties involved have been life-changing and created bonds between many that cannot be broken.

Drew (baseball)
Vince (football)
Gabriel (men's basketball)
Riley (softball)
Kenny (men's lacrosse)
Jack (men's soccer)
Erik (football)
Ava (women's lacrosse)
Kendall (softball)
Marco (baseball)
Landon (men's soccer)
Matthew (men's ice hockey)
Sarina (women's ice hockey)

ABOUT TEAM IMPACT

Team IMPACT is a national nonprofit headquartered in Boston that connects children facing serious or chronic illnesses with college athletic teams, forming life-long bonds and life-changing outcomes. Team IMPACT also serves as a therapeutic program that complements a child's medical treatments, as they develop relationships and skills that help them complete the full circle of healing.

Since its inception in 2011, Team IMPACT has matched over 2,000 children with collegiate teams at over 700 institutions in 49 states, reaching over 60,000 student-athletes — all of whom come together to ensure no child is sidelined by sickness. 

If you know a child who may be interested, visit www.goteamimpact.org for more information. 

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(Photo Credit - Team IMPACT)