DePaul University Athletics
Wintrust Blankets Chicago is Diverse, Equitable and All-Inclusive
9/15/2021 11:51:00 AM | ATHLETICS
Blue Demons, coaches and staff make blankets together for underserved children
CHICAGO – A greater variety of Blue Demons recently reaffirmed a distinctive and heartfelt hallmark of DePaul Athletics.
It appeared that more coaches and staff members than ever joined student athletes in the annual "Wintrust Blankets Chicago" community service project in McGrath-Phillips Arena during last week's Orientation.
Along with a large contingent of student athletes from every team, there was athletics director DeWayne Peevy and is wife Allison making a blanket together with Nathalia Lopez and McKenna Angotti of women's soccer plus volleyball's Julia Nagy. With a smile, Nagy denied being related to a certain embattled Chicago Bears coach.
Senior Associate AD Jill Hollembeak and Brand Marketing's Karen Uhler made plans to design one together. Sports Medicine's Nicole Schulz and women's basketball standout Lexi Held teamed up on a blanket.
Men's soccer players Gandhi Cruz, Julian Saldana, Santiago Rodriguez, Nathaniel Enriquez, Omar Ramadan and his younger brother Youssef, Tyler Moran and Omar Thompson Jr. collaborated on a creation right in the midst of their three-match winning streak.
Senior Associate AD Taylor Stapleton was all smiles working with women's tennis coach Marisa Arce and new assistant coach Aspasia Avgeri. Golf coach Marty Schiene was fully engaged with his team members even as men's tennis coach Matt Brothers did the same with the reigning BIG EAST champions.
Brooke Weitzel and Morgan Turner from women's soccer stuck around after their team completed its assignment. They spotted men's track and field athlete Zion Greer working solo.
"It was a good feeling making a blanket with someone from another team," Greer said. "I was doing it by myself when Brooke and Morgan saw me and asked to join in."
Weitzel felt the same way.
It was really refreshing meeting someone new, getting to know them and where they're from," she said. "I enjoy meeting new people."
Turner added: "Our team finished their blankets real quickly and we wanted to do more. So we saw Zion and asked if we could help him."
Men's soccer coach Mark Plotkin combined on a blanket with track and field athletes Tommy Goggin and Will Previda. Deja Church and Kaitlyn Ammons worked together with their coach, Doug Bruno of women's basketball.
This was the kind of Vincentian service that comes straight from the heart. Student athletes will deliver the much-needed and genuinely appreciated blankets to the underserved children of Marillac St. Vincent Family Services which includes the Marillac House and St. Vincent de Paul Center.
"The children are so excited and smiling from ear to ear when they receive the blankets," said DePaul community service administrator Roger Uy. "Having our Blue Demons deliver the blankets is a critical piece because it shows them that they are truly making a difference and can brighten up someone's day through their service."
Women's track speedsters Alyssa Leak and Jade Pope had never done anything like this before.
"It was fun but a little challenging because I had never made a blanket before," said Leak who specializes in the 400m hurdles. "I never had such a good cause.
"It was cool to make a blanket for someone else and not for myself. It meant much more to do something like this for another person, especially little children.
"Making these blankets, I have a feeling St. Vincent de Paul would think we're doing a great job. He would like this."
Fellow freshman Pope was in uncharted territory.
"We're from New Jersey and we don't do things like this," Pope said with a laugh looking over at Leak. "I have never in my life made a blanket before, but it was fun interacting with everyone.
What advice would she pass onto any novice blanket-makers?
"Take your time and cut longer strips," Pope said with a smile. "Be sure and communicate with your blanket partner. We were just laughing because we were kind of confused at first.
"It was cool meeting other student athletes and coming together for a good cause. This says a lot about how DePaul cares about its student athletes. DePaul is really interactive and overall, they care about everybody."
Both of the "Jersey Girls" are set on making an immediate impact in Lincoln Park.
"My goals this season are to stay on top of my academics and maintain a high GPA majoring in Psychology," Leak said. "I want to set a few personal records and run faster than I ever have before."
Pope added: "My goals this year are to keep up with my classes---don't procrastinate. I want to maintain a 3.5 GPA. In track, I want to PR in the 400. I'll try to hit :53 when my PR is :55 right now."
It appeared that more coaches and staff members than ever joined student athletes in the annual "Wintrust Blankets Chicago" community service project in McGrath-Phillips Arena during last week's Orientation.
Along with a large contingent of student athletes from every team, there was athletics director DeWayne Peevy and is wife Allison making a blanket together with Nathalia Lopez and McKenna Angotti of women's soccer plus volleyball's Julia Nagy. With a smile, Nagy denied being related to a certain embattled Chicago Bears coach.
Senior Associate AD Jill Hollembeak and Brand Marketing's Karen Uhler made plans to design one together. Sports Medicine's Nicole Schulz and women's basketball standout Lexi Held teamed up on a blanket.
Men's soccer players Gandhi Cruz, Julian Saldana, Santiago Rodriguez, Nathaniel Enriquez, Omar Ramadan and his younger brother Youssef, Tyler Moran and Omar Thompson Jr. collaborated on a creation right in the midst of their three-match winning streak.
Senior Associate AD Taylor Stapleton was all smiles working with women's tennis coach Marisa Arce and new assistant coach Aspasia Avgeri. Golf coach Marty Schiene was fully engaged with his team members even as men's tennis coach Matt Brothers did the same with the reigning BIG EAST champions.
Brooke Weitzel and Morgan Turner from women's soccer stuck around after their team completed its assignment. They spotted men's track and field athlete Zion Greer working solo.
"It was a good feeling making a blanket with someone from another team," Greer said. "I was doing it by myself when Brooke and Morgan saw me and asked to join in."
Weitzel felt the same way.
It was really refreshing meeting someone new, getting to know them and where they're from," she said. "I enjoy meeting new people."
Turner added: "Our team finished their blankets real quickly and we wanted to do more. So we saw Zion and asked if we could help him."
Men's soccer coach Mark Plotkin combined on a blanket with track and field athletes Tommy Goggin and Will Previda. Deja Church and Kaitlyn Ammons worked together with their coach, Doug Bruno of women's basketball.
This was the kind of Vincentian service that comes straight from the heart. Student athletes will deliver the much-needed and genuinely appreciated blankets to the underserved children of Marillac St. Vincent Family Services which includes the Marillac House and St. Vincent de Paul Center.
"The children are so excited and smiling from ear to ear when they receive the blankets," said DePaul community service administrator Roger Uy. "Having our Blue Demons deliver the blankets is a critical piece because it shows them that they are truly making a difference and can brighten up someone's day through their service."
Women's track speedsters Alyssa Leak and Jade Pope had never done anything like this before.
"It was fun but a little challenging because I had never made a blanket before," said Leak who specializes in the 400m hurdles. "I never had such a good cause.
"It was cool to make a blanket for someone else and not for myself. It meant much more to do something like this for another person, especially little children.
"Making these blankets, I have a feeling St. Vincent de Paul would think we're doing a great job. He would like this."
Fellow freshman Pope was in uncharted territory.
"We're from New Jersey and we don't do things like this," Pope said with a laugh looking over at Leak. "I have never in my life made a blanket before, but it was fun interacting with everyone.
What advice would she pass onto any novice blanket-makers?
"Take your time and cut longer strips," Pope said with a smile. "Be sure and communicate with your blanket partner. We were just laughing because we were kind of confused at first.
"It was cool meeting other student athletes and coming together for a good cause. This says a lot about how DePaul cares about its student athletes. DePaul is really interactive and overall, they care about everybody."
Both of the "Jersey Girls" are set on making an immediate impact in Lincoln Park.
"My goals this season are to stay on top of my academics and maintain a high GPA majoring in Psychology," Leak said. "I want to set a few personal records and run faster than I ever have before."
Pope added: "My goals this year are to keep up with my classes---don't procrastinate. I want to maintain a 3.5 GPA. In track, I want to PR in the 400. I'll try to hit :53 when my PR is :55 right now."
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