More than 70 students and staff from SUNY Old Westbury participated in the PGA Tour and the State University of New York’s sponsorship of the "SUNY’s Got Your Back" program at The Northern Trust tournament in Old Westbury. In total, the volunteers assembled 5,000 comfort bags containing items such as toiletries, resources pages, and personal notes to victims and survivors of violence across New York State.
“Providing support in any way we can for those who are victims of violence and abuse is a role that each and every one of us should play when we have the opportunity. I was proud today to see so many SUNY Old Westbury students and staff volunteer their time to help generate awareness, raise funds and create comfort bags for those in need,” said College President Calvin O. Butts, III. “Through programs like 'SUNY's Got Your Back,' our students, staff and the community our college serves experience the importance of speaking out and supporting victims of violence and abuse."
SUNY students were joined by professional golfers Danny Lee, Patrick Rodgers, and Anirban Lahiri, as well as volunteers from the PGA Tour Wives Association, NYS Department of Health, New York State Police, the state Office for the Prevention of Domestic Violence, the state Office of Victim Services, and AmeriCorps.
In addition to the PGA TOUR, this year’s "SUNY's Got Your Back” program was supported by the New York State Police, Staples, Field Notes, Notes Inc. USA/Dupli Envelopes and Graphics, Monster Energy, Nielson, and Specialty Advertising Association of Greater New York. For more information about the program, visit www.suny.edu/gotyourback/.
