History:
COC was founded in 1995 to help develop the Department of Athletics community outreach program.

Overview:
The Thomas W. Ford '42 Student-Athlete Community Outreach Committee (COC) is an affiliate organization of Dwight Hall at Yale. Our members are varsity student-athletes, club sports athletes, intramural, and recreational athletes. Simply, we are undergraduates who share an interest in sports and community service.

Objective:
The main goal of COC activities is two-fold. We strive to bring Yale student-athletes and Yale Athletics into the New Haven community and to bring the New Haven community onto the Yale campus to be a part of Yale Athletics. COC members volunteer at hospitals and schools but also organize events at Yale's gyms and playing fields. Regular COC meetings take place in the evenings at the Ray Tompkins House or Dwight Hall.

COC Organization:
The committee is made up of student-athletes who act as community outreach liaisons to their respective teams and outreach programs. In addition to organizing efforts within their teams, committee members coordinate overall activities for the COC, as well plan monthly meetings. They further promote the on campus and serve as a resource to undergraduate organizations. They meet weekly with the athletic department advisor in working to make the program better each and every day. The goal of this committee is to have all 35 teams actively involved.

The amount of time dedicated by each COC member varies according to the individual's level of interest. COC Officers and project coordinators meet weekly to plan outreach activities, some volunteers meet weekly with their young Bulldog Buddies, while other student-athletes might only participate at one Youth Day a year. Members' time commitments vary according to the constraints of their athletic schedule and are decided by each individual.

COC Structure:
-Program Leaders
-Individual student-athletes

Yale Athletics Community Outreach Staff:

Tim Ford: Senior Associate Athletic Director
Alison Cole '99: Assistant Athletic Director
Jordan Skolnick: Community Outreach Director
Sam Burrell: Community Outreach Consultant
Faeisha Morrison; NYSP Director
Joshua Cox '08:  Community Outreach Assistant

Outreach Award: · 1997 Athletic Management Magazine Award of Excellence

Thomas W. Ford '42 Outreach Award Recipients:

1998- Sharon Katz (Fencing)
Tsali Ricketson

1999- Reid Lerner (Tennis)
Rosanne Wustrack (Volleyball)

2000- Susanne Barnes (Field Hockey/Ice Hockey)
Hiroyuki Suzuki (Soccer)

2001- Lee Jelenic (Ice Hockey)
Ciara McCormack (Soccer)

2002- Scott Austin (Football)
Vanessa Herald (Volleyball)

2003- Denis Nam (Ice Hockey)
Suzanne Anthony (Field Hockey)

2004- Erika Hockinson (Ice Hockey)
Peter Dobrowolski (Ice Hockey)

2005- Anne Martin (Cross Country/Track)
Andrew Sullivan (Football)

2006- Brynne Kennedy (Gymnastics)
Alex Faherty (Football)

2007- Kristin Savard (Ice Hockey)
Steve Bassermann (Football)

2008- Jennie Hansen (Crew)
David Silberstein (Football)

If you have any questions or would like more information, please call (203) 432-3344.