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With a little help from March’s HYPE Career Ready keynote speaker, Athletes Against All Violence has started to make a difference.

Junior Trace Reynolds and sophomore Brad Wienhold, both members of the team, began their new campus organization well before Beverly Gooden spoke on the issue of domestic violence on March 15 during HYPE Day. The newly founded campus organization looks to raise awareness about domestic violence in Tiffin and the surrounding areas by supporting local organizations. Although founded and run by student-athletes, the group is open to all members of the ����Թ� community.

“We talked with (football GA) Dom Guglielmo and he pitched the idea of starting the organization,” Reynolds said. “I have sisters and this is something I couldn’t fathom one of them having to deal with.” AAAV gives the student-athletes a chance to pick up community service hours all while raising money and awareness and gathering needed supplies for a cause.

As founders of the organization, both Reynolds and Wienhold were selected to have lunch with Gooden after her keynote speech. It was during lunch that the pair got to hear more about Gooden’s experiences. “The more she explained about what she went through, the more meaningful it all became,” Reynolds recalled. “It really helped shaped what this organization can become.”

The group currently consists of student-athletes passionate about raising awareness for issues that are prevalent in today’s society. “The hope was that if we could get (the campus) to notice what we’re doing and sticking up for what is right, then we can influence others for the better,” Reynolds said.

They began by collecting donations in Seiberling Gymnasium to create overnight bags filled items such as toiletries, clothing and supplies that survivors of domestic violence may need to successfully escape their situation. Before leaving campus, Gooden pledged to donate bags for AAAV’s drive. In their first drive campaign alone, the group collected enough supplies to fill 40 overnight bags. They will deliver the supplies this week to Open Arms, a domestic violence and rape crisis service organization in Findlay.

“The goal is to try to do a drive each month whether to raise funds or supplies,” Wienhold said. “We’re looking to have each team do community service each weekend as a part of the group too.” AAAV will also be present at the second annual Walk a Mile in Her Shoes event during the It’s On Us “Sex Week” in late April, educating participants about domestic violence.

With only a couple of months under their belt, the group has its sights set forward on continuing to make a difference. “We want to use the momentum to get more students, organizations and charities involved,” Reynolds said. “This all took off a little quicker than expected, which is great.”

For those looking to get involved with Athletes Against All Violence, contact Trace Reynolds at treynold [at] heidelberg.edu or Brad Wienhold at bwienhol [at] heidelberg.edu.