Mariya Pakina | Reporter
Jan. 7, 2015; 2 p.m.

Lindenwood’s student athletes are helping children with life-threatening illnesses through sales of 2016 wall calendars.

The calendars, produced by the NCAA Student-Athlete Advisory Committee, feature the university’s 600-plus student-athletes. All of the proceeds will be donated to the Make-A-Wish organization.

Casey Finnell, the director of athletic academic success, is organizing the effort at Lindenwood this year. This is the second year that Lindenwood’s has produced a calendar for this cause but is Finnell’s first year organizing the effort.

“It is always difficult to ask people for money, because money can make it seem personal,” Finnell said. But it’s easier to ask people to donate to a worthy cause, like Make-A-Wish, she said.

Make-A-Wish is a non-profitorganization that grants wishes to children between the ages of 2 ½ and 18 diagnosed with a life-threatening medical condition.

Calendars can be purchased for $15 (including shipping/handling) online through the Lindenwood Spirit Shoppe or for $10 if bought directly from a SAAC member.

Finnell said Division II established a national alliance with Make-A-Wish in 2003.

“While we are not required to donate a specific amount to Make-A-Wish each year, our student-athletes have decided that they wanted to help grant wishes for local children, which is why we use Make-A-Wish as the sole recipient of money raised,” she said.  “They’re just good humans who want to help make the world a little bit better, a little bit at a time.”

For more information about purchasing the calendars, contact Finnell at [email protected]