Football Coaches Take Part in Lauren's First and Goal Camp

Football Coaches Volunteer at Lauren's First and Goal Camp 

EASTON, Pa. (6/9/09) - A pair of the Kean University football coaches recently volunteered their time at the sixth annual Lauren's First and Goal Football Camp on Sunday, May 7, at Lafayette College. 

Matt Andzel and Ryan Hebron were among the 275 college coaches who volunteered at the one-day clinic to teach aspiring football players the ins-and-outs of the game. 

A record 1,733 high school students participated in the camp, as all proceeds from the camp benefit Lauren's First and Goal Foundation, a charitable organization created to raise funds to support pediatric brain tumor research and cancer services.  The donations from the campers alone tallied $62,000 and the day's total of $190,000 is steadily on the rise with the help from outside contributions.

The camp and organization are named in honor of Lauren Loose, a 12-year old brain tumor survivor, who has been living with a diagnosis of multiple brain tumors, Neurofibromatosis and Evan's Syndrome since she was nine months old.  Lauren is the daughter of Lafayette defensive coordinator John Loose.  

Lauren (pictured right) addressed the crowd of players, coaches, parents and volunteers who turned out to support her battle with an inoperable brain tumor and expressed her appreciation for their continuous support. University of Connecticut head coach Randy Edsall was the keynote speaker.

In the six years since the camp's inception, Lauren's First and Goal has grown from just 56 volunteer coaches and 300 campers to one of the largest one-day clinics in the nation and has added a second camp at the University of South Florida, which is in its second year and will take place on June 14.   

With the generosity of its volunteers and sponsors, Lauren's First and Goal has raised over  $700,000 in six years, seeing more than 7,000 high school players participate. Lauren's First and Goal is able to donate all proceeds directly to pediatric brain tumor research and cancer services. To donate, please visit www.laurensfirstandgoal.org. 

Andzel is in his third year on the Cougar coaching staff, while Hebron enters his first season on the football staff, after also serving as the throwing coach for the track and field team as an undergraduate student the last two seasons.

Under third-year Head Coach Dan Garrett, the Kean football team and coaching staff have taken part in numerous community services projects in recent months, including volunteering at the Clean Ocean Action Beach Sweeps in Keansburg, N.J. and at the Community Foodbank of NJ, while also participating in Read Across America.