HARRISONBURG, Va., Sept. 18, 2009 - James Madison University student-athletes joined children in the local community to celebrate a pair of special events.

On Friday, Sept. 11, members of the JMU swimming and diving team and the cheerleading squad participated in a Day for Kids with the Boys and Girls Club of Harrisonburg and Rockingham County at the Lucy F. Simms Continuing Education Center.  The carnival-themed event provided over 300 youth a chance to enjoy outdoor activities and interact with the JMU athletes on hand from 5 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.

The following day, student athletes from JMU swimming and diving, softball, women's basketball, and men's basketball assisted with the annual Children First Day hosted by local television station WHSV.  The event was held in Yoder Arena inside the University Commons at Eastern Mennonite University from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.  Families throughout the area enjoyed demonstrations, crafts, food, a petting zoo, special shows, and more.  Other organizations joining the JMU student-athletes included WHSV, Lowes, Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, United Way, Salvation Army, Geico, Relay for Life, and EMU student-athletes.

The following letter was sent to JMU Intercollegiate Athletics by the Boys and Girls Club.

On September 11, 2009 the Boys & Girls Clubs of Harrisonburg and Rockingham County (BGCHR) hosted our annual Day for Kids Event at the Lucy F. Simms Continuing Education Center in Harrisonburg. Over 300 youth attended this event as well as people from the surrounding communities.

The event would have not been as successful without the help of our dedicated volunteers. These volunteers included the James Madison University (JMU) Cheerleaders and Duke Dog as well as the Women's Swimming and Diving Team. The students were an outstanding representation of the JMU Community. The Swimming and Diving Team as well as the Cheerleaders did a great job in helping to run the activities that were happening that day such as ring toss, tug-of-war, manning the bounce houses, face painting, helping to prepare the cotton candy and snows cones as well has spending time with our youth. The Duke Dog was a great hit. Our youth always enjoy having the Duke Dog come to the Club; they consider it to be a treat.

On behalf of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Harrisonburg and Rockingham County, I, would like to thank the JMU Athletics Department for allowing the teams and Duke Dog to attend our event. As an organization we are always elated to have positive role models interact with our youth. The athletes are an inspiration for our youth to strive to do well not only in their extra-curricular activities but most importantly their academics.