The Saints Student Athletics Association (SSAA) is making a big donation to St. Clair College's Athletics department after a series of successful events and fundraisers over the summer.
SSAA representatives provided the Athletic department with a cheque for $21,000 to help offset costs for varsity sports operations for student-athletes at St. Clair College.
SSAA Board members Andrew Weiler, George Karatzias and Matteo Palumbo stand with St. Clair College President Michael Silvaggi to deliver a cheque for $21,000 to Saints Athletics on Sept. 19, 2025. (Source: SSAA)
The donation was comprised of proceeds from four youth summer camps where young athletes learned essential skills in baseball, basketball, softball and volleyball. The SSAA also hosted the annual Back Forty Golf Tournament at Woodland Hills Golf Course, the SportsPlex Summer Basketball League, the SSAA and Saints Athletics Beach Volleyball Tournament and weekly auctions.
"We are extremely proud to say that our summer programing went very well in terms of community engagement and number of attendees to our various events, youth camps, and leagues," said Christian Seguin, the Executive Director of the SSAA. "The donated funds were all raised from sports-based community initiatives which shows the importance of being engaged and offering high level community opportunities to people of all ages."
Seguin said the youth summer camps were extremely well attended, and campers were highly engaged in the programming.
"The summer youth camps were led by current and former Saints and sponsored by the St. Clair Alumni Association," said Seguin. "We were ecstatic to see the turnout for these camps exceed our expectations and we look forward to offering many more camps soon."
Seguin also acknowledged the SportsPlex Summer Basketball League, which took place Thursday nights throughout the summer.
"The league saw 55 current and former collegiate and pro players, which showcases the talent we have in our city," he said, noting there were 14 teams involved this season. "They duked it out every week and the community was behind us all summer, as we saw attendance numbers skyrocket - both in terms of players and fans."
The SSAA has now donated $48,500 to Athletics this calendar year and is extending a special thanks to the St. Clair College Alumni Association, which sponsored multiple initiatives. That sponsorship included the SSAA Youth Summer Camps, where St. Clair College graduates were able to receive a discount for their kids to attend the camps. In total, 45 Alumni discounts were utilized at the camps.
"All in all, we want this donation to express that we are always huge supporters of Saints Athletics and St. Clair College," said Seguin. "Sports can bring people of all ages and skill levels together, and we want this donation to express the importance of athletics at the college level, both for our varsity and intramural athletes."
"We hope this donation highlights the importance of maintaining competitive varsity programs that we believe can truly bring people together and attract athletes from across the world to be a part of St. Clair College," said Seguin.
