POUGHKEEPSIE, N.Y. - The Marist football team, in
conjunction with the Friends of Jaclyn Foundation, held an adoption ceremony
for 11-year-old Daniel Ferretti on Friday, October 12, 2012.
Daniel is the older brother of Jaimie Ferretti, who was adopted by the
Marist women's soccer team earlier this year. Daniel's adoption took place at
Tenney Stadium on Friday, just prior to the Marist women's soccer team's home
game against Fairfield.
Daniel is part of the Friends of Jaclyn Safe-on-the-Sidelines program, in
which siblings of adopted children are adopted by a team themselves.
Marist head football coach Jim Parady praised the efforts of Defensive Line Coach/Video Coordinator Tunde Agboke in helping the adoption become a reality.
"I'd like to thank Coach Agboke for working with the Friends of Jaclyn
foundation and helping us secure the adoption," Parady said.
"Everyone in our program is excited to become a part of the lives of
Daniel and his family."
Several Marist teams and student-athletes are involved with the Friends of
Jaclyn program. On Sept. 30, the Marist Student-Athlete Advisory Committee led
a group of approximately 100 student-athletes in the Friends of Jaclyn Angel
Walk, which took place at the Walkway Over the Hudson.
About Friends of Jaclyn
The mission of the Friends of Jaclyn Foundation is to improve the quality of
life for children with pediatric brain tumors. The program is based on love,
support and friendship between the child, the team, and the child's family. We
pair a child with a college or high school athletic team based on geographic
proximity so the child can be involved with the team as much as possible. The
child is "adopted" by the team and becomes an honorary team member.
The gift is in the relationship. The child gains a new support network of
loving friends and the team learns to see the world with new eyes. (from www.friendsofjaclyn.net)