About 1,900 miles.

That’s how far University of Redlands football team members and coaches traveled to lend a helping hand to those affected by Hurricane Katrina in New Orleans.

Each also contributed $150 of his own money for the experience of spending 14 days in St. Bernard’s Parish clearing the contents of houses destroyed by Katrina.

Maynard said the team approached the project like it was game time and set a goal to clear more than 20 homes to become the top group to assist Hilltop Rescue, a relief agency working in the New Orleans area.

"It was a valuable educational experience — and we’re in the education business," said Maynard. "I think their perspective for caring and developing a soft heart for community service was largely impacted. Their attitude toward their own personal hardships probably grew in perspective, and I think our guys surprised themselves as to how they were able to respond to two weeks of grueling work."

It was the first time the team had completed such a large-scale service project, but funding already has been secured to replay the effort next year. Location and other details are still being finalized.

"We’re really excited to receive funding again. We hope to make this a tradition," said Maynard.

A California-based nonprofit organization promoting health through participation in women’s sports is expanding its reach less than two years after opening its doors.

The Bay Area Women’s Sports Initiative (BAWSI) announced plans to launch two programs aimed at building on its successful "Go!Girl!Go!" program and continuing to promote health and positive growth in the lives of youth.

Although still a fledgling organization, BAWSI has grown quickly. Its first program in April of last year attracted 15 girls. Fifteen months later, the organization is serving 490 children in the Bay Area. Recent programs are aimed at serving at-risk youth in the Bay Area, promoting self-esteem and encouraging children to make healthy choices.

This summer, BAWSI will reach out to children in a nearby domestic violence shelter through the BAWSI Kids program. As part of the outreach, student-athletes from area institutions will lead participants at the Home Safe Shelter in San Jose in activities and games designed to keep them active. Each child will receive a T-shirt, a pedometer and an exercise journal to record their daily activity.

In the fall, Blackford Elementary School in San Jose will host a BAWSI program that will serve kids in wheelchairs — one of the first programs the organization will have available to boys and girls. Student-athletes and Bay Area wheelchair athletes, including two-time Paralympian Sharon Kelleher, will lead activities.

"Having such a great example of someone like (Sharon) will be great for the kids to see," Bjornsrud said.

In the future, Bjornsrud wants to add a nutritional aspect to the after-school programs to further promote BAWSI’s health-driven goals.