Griffin athletes give back to the community

Griffin athletes work hard on the field, on the court and in the pool, yet they still find time to give back to the community.

On Tuesday, members of the varsity basketball team served dinner to cancer patients who are temporary residents at Hope Lodge. Hope Lodge is a program of the American Cancer Society and is located in St. Louis's Central West End. The facility is the annual beneficiary of the Griffins' "Paint it Pink" game. Through the generosity of parents, fans and players, Vianney basketball has contributed more than $12,000 to Hope Lodge over the last three years.

LEFT: Senior basketball player Sean O'Brien visits with Hope Lodge residents after serving them dinner.

Last Saturday, scores of Griffin athletes from Vianney's soccer team and swimming and diving team invested their morning working with kids from the Special Needs Soccer Association as the youngsters trained and played games.

The Special Needs Soccer Association, SPENSA, is a nonprofit, St. Louis-based soccer program for youth ages 5 to 21 who have disabilities.

SPENSA brings the excitement and fun of playing soccer to players who traditionally have not had a place in the youth soccer system.

RIGHT: Junior Michael Albes, a member of Vianney's soccer team, helps a SPENSA player warm up.