MANSFIELD – For more than 10 years, the Mansfield University softball team has come together to support fellow athletes for Special Olympic Bowling at Maple Lanes in Mansfield.
 
Every Wednesday during an eight-week span from October to December, the Mountaineers spend a fun-filled evening with Special Olympics athletes of all ages from the surrounding area. The Mounties lead the athletes through stretching routines before hitting the lanes to knock down pins.
 
In 2015, the Mansfield Softball program received the Special Olympics Tioga County Sponsor of the Year award for their work with the organization.
 
Mansfield Softball is also involved with the Tioga County YMCA Triathlon each year and provides free community softball clinics. Recently, the Mountaineers were involved in building the new Graydon Scott Playground in Mansfield and helped stuff boxes for Puerto Rican hurricane victims.
 
"Mansfield Softball enjoys giving back to our community and working with the Special Olympics is a great opportunity for us to have fun while helping the local community," explained head coach Edith Gallagher.
 
GiveBackMU is a month long focus on how the Mansfield University Department of Athletics and its student-athletes support the local community with charitable acts and volunteerism. The culmination of the GiveBackMU campaign is on Tuesday, Nov. 28 when Mansfield holds a special Day of Giving in association with the global Giving Tuesday movement.
 
Alumni, supporters, and friends of Mountaineer Athletics are kindly asked to make a gift on Nov. 28's Day of Giving to help provide opportunities for Mansfield student-athletes and further the mission of the university. 100% of gifts given through Mansfield's secure online portal are tax deductible.