(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 year's community service initiative, in its seventh year, began as the student-athletes returned from winter break. The schools had until April 7 to collect loose change which would later be donated to an organization of their choosing. The end of this year's initiative coincides with the NCAA's fourth-annual Division III Week.

Overall, the USA South institutions collected a record $7,301.47! Helping the Conference achieve the new record was the fact that eight institutions (Averett, Covenant, Huntingdon, LaGrange, Maryville, Methodist, N.C. Wesleyan and Piedmont) established new highs for funds collected while an additional institution (Mary Baldwin) improved its total from a year ago. Over the eight-year history of the program, the USA South institutions have donated $32,171.57 to local organizations. 

With a grand total of $1,805.00, Averett is the Pennies for a Purpose champion for the first time. The amount the Cougars raised is the fourth-highest single-year total collected during this competition. Averett will be presented the Pennies for a Purpose plaque at a later date. LaGrange raised $1,220.00 to finish second with the fifth-highest single-year total collected. In third place was two-time defending champion, Maryville, with $934.48 raised which is the eighth-highest single-year amount collected. Rounding out the top-four was Methodist who collected $803.14 which is the tenth-highest single-year amount raised.

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 305,187 items to their local communities.

Below is a list of the local organizations where the USA South institutions donated their collections:

Averett University - The Jimmy V Foundation for cancer research.
Covenant College - Project 52, a local organization that serves the low-income community. 
Huntingdon College - The Montgomery, Alabama Common Ground Ministries.
LaGrange College - Autism Speaks.
Mary Baldwin College - Split between the New Directions Child Day Care, the Augusta Health Cancer Center Bridge Fund and the HEART Program.
Maryville College - Split between The Kay Yow Foundation, Area 15 Special Olympics and the Kim Rowden Memorial Fund.
Meredith College - Special Olympics of Wake County, North Carolina.
Methodist University - The Kay Yow Foundation.
N.C. Wesleyan College - Split between The Kay Yow Foundation and the "Coaches vs. Cancer" NABC Foundation.
Piedmont College - Local soup kitchens.
William Peace University - The Miracle League of the Triangle.

As a fundraiser, Averett SAAC President Nicole Barringer (left) pies Senior Woman Administrator Carly Pearce in the face!

The Covenant SAAC organized a "Spikeball" Tournament to raise funds.

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