(FAYETTEVILLE, N.C.) – In an effort to help worthy organizations during the spring semester, the USA South Student Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) developed, "Pennies for a Purpose", in 2008. This community service initiative, in its third year, began in mid-January, earlier than usual, in efforts to assist those in Haiti recover after the devastating earthquake which crippled the country. The schools had until March 31 to collect loose change which would later be donated to an organization of their choosing.

Overall, the USA South institutions collected $6,650.74! Over the three-year history of the program, the USA South institutions have donated $13,737.98 to local organizations. With a grand total of $2,425.73, Shenandoah University is the Pennies for a Purpose champion for 2010. Shenandoah will donate its winning amount to the Red Cross' Haiti Relief Fund. The Hornets will be presented the Pennies for a Purpose plaque at a later date. Peace College raised $2,024.01 to finish second while Meredith College's $596.10 total rounded out the top-three.

In addition to Shenandoah, five other institutions donated their collections to the Red Cross' Haiti Relief Fund. Mary Baldwin College, Christopher Newport University, Averett University, Greensboro College and Methodist University, along with the Hornets, collected $3,839.05 that will assist in the Haitian relief efforts. Other Conference institutions had prior arrangements with local organizations of need. Ferrum College donated its amount to the local St. James Center, Meredith made its donation to the Kay Yow/WBCA Cancer Fund and Peace shared its donation with the Duke University Children's Hospital.

This is the second community service program developed by the USA South Conference SAAC as the "Cans Across the Conference" food drive, which takes place during the Thanksgiving holiday, was created in 2004. Through that campaign, USA South Institutions have donated a total of 114,227 items to their local communities.