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The ���ϲ����� Sport Management (SPM) Club will hold its Eighth Annual Charity Sports Auction on Saturday, Dec. 8, in the Carrier Dome. Silent bidding on hundreds of auction items, including sports memorabilia and hands-on experiences, electronics and tickets to major sporting events, will take place in the backcourt during the SU men’s basketball game against Monmouth. Doors will open at 5 p.m. for the auction through Gates A, B, C & E. All other gates will open as usual at 5 p.m., prior to the start of the game at 7 pm.

All of the proceeds from this year’s auction will benefit Special Olympics New York. The SPM Club is a student-run organization in the David B. Falk College of Sport and Human Dynamics’ sport management department. Since its founding in 2005, the club has raised more than $150,000 for local charities, including the ���ϲ����� Boys and Girls Clubs, the American Diabetes Association of Central New York, the Upstate Golisano Children’s Hospital, the CNY Ronald McDonald House, the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals and the Upstate Cancer Center.

“The commitment of our students to this event is well beyond an experiential learning experience,” says Kate Veley, events and alumni manager in the David B. Falk College of Sport and Human Dynamics and SPM advisor. “For our students, this event is an important opportunity for them to make a difference in the ���ϲ����� community. We truly couldn’t be prouder of each and every one of them and the amazing event they are organizing.”

The Special Olympics is the largest amateur sports organization in the world and Special Olympics New York is the largest chapter in North America and the sixth largest chapter in the world with 55,698 athletes (2011 census). The cost per athlete, per season is $400, and no athlete ever pays to play. Special Olympics’ mission is to provide year-round sports training and athletic competition in a variety of Olympic-type sports for children and adults with intellectual disabilities. These experiences give them continuing opportunities to develop physical fitness, demonstrate courage, experience joy and participate in a sharing of gifts, skills and friendship with their families, other Special Olympics athletes and the community.

The purchase of a game ticket for the Dec. 8 ���ϲ����� men’s basketball game will include access to the charity sport auction. Tickets can be purchased on the SU Athletics’ Web site () or at the Carrier Dome Box Office. Tickets can also be ordered by phone at 1-800-DOMETIX. Follow the ���ϲ����� Charity Auction on Twitter @SU_SPM_Auction and will post ongoing information on the auction.

In each of the past seven years, the SPM Club has been recognized with the Chancellor’s Award for Public Engagement and Scholarship and received the 2009 Orange Circle Award from the SU Alumni Association to honor SU alumni, friends, faculty, staff and students who have achieved extraordinary accomplishments in support of others.