CIAA Lends Helping Hand to Troops Preparing for Afghan Conflict

Fort Bragg, NC - On the morning of Saturday, November 17th, the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA) offered a helping hand to Fort Bragg troops preparing for the conflict in Afghanistan. Army Airborne soldiers had been practicing their parachute jumps since dawn when CIAA representatives Jeffrey McLeod and Lisa Butler delivered 150 dozen Krispy Kreme Donuts to the tired troops. The visit was instrumented by Amy Trimble, corporate marketing specialist for the Moral, Welfare, and Recreation (MRW) subdivision of the U.S. Army. The delivery was the culmination of the CIAA's community works program that was started in conjunction with its Football Championship Game.

"To see the looks on the soldiers' faces when wer were given them the donuts was invigorating," says Jeffrey McLeod, CIAA Assistant to the Commissioner. "One soldier came up to us and said ‘God Bless You' with the utmost sincerity, and I'd be lying if I told you that our heartstrings were not pulled."

The CIAA began its community works program with the inception of the All-Community Works Team made up of student-athletes from all twelve CIAA member institutions. The team visited a Winston-Salem children's hospital and community recreation center on November 9th. The All-CIAA Cheerleading Team performed at Winston-Salem Carver High School.

"The play was for the CIAA to reach out to the community, but on Saturday at Fort Bragg, I think we did much more than that," says McLeod. "I believe in some way we helped our country."