Roy Simmons Jr. (center) developed a special bond with the players he coached.
Players Rally Around Former Coach
4/8/2010 12:58:21 PM | Men's Lacrosse
One of the many characteristics embodied by the Syracuse lacrosse program is the importance of family. Families always support one another and aid one of their kin if they're in need. It's an attitude instilled by Hall of Fame coach Roy Simmons Jr. in the hundreds of players who came to Syracuse to play for him from 1971-98 and it continues to this day.
That's why when a group of Simmons' lacrosse alums, affectionately known as the Burnt Orange, heard about his plan to start the Nancy Simmons Wisdom House of Fayetteville, N.Y. they were eager to help.
“I didn't ask them to do this,” Simmons said. “I'm very touched. There are a lot of great lacrosse programs, but I don't know of any that has the heartbeat my program has.”
What the Burnt Orange did was start the Simmons Lacrosse Foundation, a non-profit association set up to benefit the Wisdom House.
The foundation's will hold its first event this weekend – a fundraiser/silent auction scheduled for 6-9 p.m. at the Capital Grille in the Time-Life Building in Manhattan on Friday, April 9. It's the evening before No. 3 Syracuse takes on Princeton in the Konica Minolta Big City Classic at New Meadowlands Stadium.
The money raised at the event will benefit the Wisdom House, named in honor of Simmons wife, Nancy, who passed away in 2007. The money will be used to fund church programs at Trinity Church located on Chapel Street in Fayetteville.
According to its Web Site, Wisdom House is a “spiritual outreach ministry of Trinity Church. This ministry is an effort to provide hospitality and welcome to seekers of all faith traditions. It's designed to be a place where we might honor one another through fruitful dialogue and inquiry.”
It grew out of Trinity's need for space to hold church school sessions, choir practices and other programs. Nancy Simmons faithfully attended the church for several years, so when the building across the street from Trinity went up for sale, Roy raised the money to help buy it and Wisdom House was born.
“They sorely need the space,” Simmons said. “My wife loved Trinity and they were only going to be able to expand the church if I raised the money to buy the building.”
At last summer's Lake Placid Summit Lacrosse Classic a group ex-Syracuse lacrosse players entered a team in the master's division called the Burnt Orange. Only former Orange lacrosse players were eligible to be team members. In addition, to advancing to the division championship game, they formed the idea of the Simmons Lacrosse Foundation to help their former coach raise money for the church that meant so much to his wife.
It's something any family would do for one of its own.
“They really like helping this old guy,” Simmons said. “We have the fundraiser Friday night. Syracuse plays Princeton in the new stadium Saturday. It should be a great weekend of lacrosse.”
Click here to learn more about this weekend's fundraiser and how you can support the Simmons Lacrosse Foundation. To find out more about Wisdom House and its programs, visit trinityfayetteville.org/wisdom_house
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