April 19, 2011

RUSTON - One of the main community service projects that the Louisiana Tech softball team undertakes each year is working with the local chapter of the Domestic Abuse Resistance Team (DART).

DART is a nation-wide organization that helps those individuals who are effected by domestic abuse, including providing shelter which houses women and children.

Just over a month ago, the Lady Techsters teamed up with Fresno State for the second annual DART Charity Softball Game to raise money through sales of concessions, raffle tickets and silent auction items donated by local businesses.

"This event is something that our players and our coaches have really bought into the last few years," said Tech head coach Sarah Dawson. "It is something that is very important to all of us. We stress community outreach and this is a great cause where we feel we really can make a difference in people's lives."

As a tribute to those affected by domestic abuse and to help raise awareness of this nation-wide issue, the Lady Techsters wore purple uniforms - DART's signature color - during the weekend while Fresno State wore purple visors.

Through the hard work of the Lady Techster players and coaches leading up to the weekend and the volunteer services of the parents of the Lady Techster players who prepared the food and sold the raffle tickets during the games, more than $6,500 was raised this year.

This past weekend prior to the Lady Techsters home game against Hawaii, a check for a total of $6,503.40 was presented to DART Board President Jeffrey Walczyk and Executive Director Cathy Ayo.

"We just found out yesterday that we lost $40,000 in grant funds, so the $6,500 that the Tech softball team raised is fantastic," Ayo said. "It will help save us. For me personally what means a lot is to see groups active in their communities and through non-profit organizations helping others. The Louisiana Tech softball players and coaches have done an excellent job, and we are so appreciative of all of their efforts."

This philanthropic endeavor by the Lady Techster program started in 2009 as an idea born from former Tech centerfielder and marketing major Emma Barnes.

That year Barnes and her Lady Techster teammates raised over $7,500, thus totaling more than $14,000 that the program has generated for the local chapter of DART through this project.

Dawson and the Lady Techsters will be on the road this weekend in Las Cruces before returning home next weekend to host San Jose State in the last home series of the year.

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