"It's wonderful:" Marquette University golf team gives back, collects clothes for St. Vincent de Paul
MILWAUKEE -- Sometimes it is easy to take our blessings for granted. A group of Marquette University student-athletes thought about that, and decided to become a blessing to those less fortunate.
"You look at the first day of class, and it's like Christmas for our guys with the golf bags, the shirts, the this and that. We always feel very blessed -- really with everything we do," Michael Bielawski, assistant golf coach at MU said.
Michael Bielawski, assistant golf coach at MU
Bielawski played for the Golden Eagles. He knows the score -- scholarships, great experiences such as the privilege of playing the finest courses -- everything's top shelf.
"We were trying to think of a way to give back, and we thought 'go look in the closet and see how much stuff we have. Maybe we can help in this respect,'" Bielawski said.
"Beelo," as he is known, is a member at Old St. Mary's Church. He connected with Father Tim Kitzke.
"He suggested that I contact St. Vincent de Paul about starting a clothing drive -- which has turned out to be very successful. We've had great support from the university. President Lovell has sent out some information on it, so it's been wonderful. The whole university -- not just athletics, has been behind us," Bielawski said.
The result was better than a 300-yard drive down the fairway or a long putt for birdie.
PHOTO GALLERY:
Garbage bags full of clothing filled drop-off locations on campus, and at Hidden Glen -- Marquette's home course.
The best part for Bielawski was watching his players swing from the heels to help make the outreach a success.
Nick Nelson
"Being here at Marquette, you learn a lot about our Jesuit values," Nick Nelson, All Big East WSGA Match Play champion. "There is a bigger picture, and I think once you get your eyes opened up to this larger perspective, you really see what the right thing is to do. I think it gives you good direction as far as what you do in the future."
Trevor Thomas
"We're very blessed in what we do and the opportunities we have -- so the fact that we can help people out whenever we can and kind of give back to the community really gives us a sense of satisfaction," Trevor Thomas, MU sophomore said.
Garrett Loomis
"In golf, it's individual and team sort of -- so if you're doing the best you can in collegiate golf, you're helping out the team. It's kind of the same here. If we're doing the best we can individually to make a different cumulatively as a team, we'll make a bigger difference," Garrett Loomis, MU sophomore said.
Freshman Oliver Farrell was one of the top recruits from England. The rising star hopes to someday become the top college golfer -- but he understands that there's more to life than being number one.
Oliver Farrell
"It's not about yourself anymore, it's about helping out people who need the help -- especially at this time of year at Christmas. You don't always think about what people have at that time, so giving back makes you feel happy," Farrell said.
As you can imagine, Bielawaski, as well as Marquette Head Coach Steve Bailey are proud of their young men -- on and off the links.
"We always say we'll never remember these guys for what they shoot on the golf course, but for how they conduct themselves -- and we truly do have the greatest group of guys. It's wonderful. You feel like such a big part of their lives for four years, and it's going to be hard to watch some of them go, to be quite honest with you," Bielawski said.
The MU golf team collected nearly 100 bags of clothing in 21 days for St. Vincent de Paul.
If you'd like to donate, you can call Coach Bielawski at (414) 288-4653, or email him at Michael.Bielawski@Marquette.edu.
Donations are being accepted at Bielawski's office -- at 1532 W. Clybourn Street in Milwaukee.