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(Enlarge) Towson University cornerback J.R. Scott and other members of the Tigers’ football team came to Unitas Stadium on Sunday to offer support, and some refreshments, at the ninth annual Run/Walk for Kids Sake to benefit the Villa Maria Continuum. Football players from TU have befriended youngsters at Villa Maria, a facility in Timonium for children with behavioral and emotional issues. (Photo by Brendan Cavanaugh)

At Towson University on Saturday, the Tigers football team defeated the Coastal Carolina Chanticleers, 21-17.

Less than 12 hours later, some of the Tigers threw their jerseys back on and returned to Unitas Stadium to try for another win -- this time at the ninth annual 5k Run/Walk for Kids' Sake to raise money for the Villa Maria Continuum.

"The intent for us is to get kids to come out for kids," said Carol Shear, development director at Villa Maria, which has a facility in Timonium for children with behavioral and emotional issues.

Delaware native and sophomore Brian Potts, a Tiger quarterback, was one of the big kids that came out to support the small kids.

"Coach (Rob) Ambrose told us it would be a great cause to help out with," he said. "Everyone just volunteered to help out."

The event raised about $25,000 as of Monday, though donations and pledges were still being tallied, Shear said.

She said the 75 or so children in Villa Maria's residential program -- ages 6 to 14 and mostly boys -- are referred to the program only after they've exhibited "unsafe behavior" either toward themselves or others.

She said the run/walk and the relationship Villa Maria has with the university athletes serve as positive influences for the youngsters.

"I think they're great role models," Shear said of the TU players.

Ambrose said the team's connection to Villa Maria dates to when he was the offensive coordinator and assistant head coach at Towson and small groups of players, usually four or five at a time, would visit the school.

"We have had a relationship with Villa Maria for 14 or 15 years," he said. "Some of our players found the experience meaningful and would become mentors."

Ambrose, a 1993 TU graduate, spent the past seven years coaching at the University of Connecticut. But when he returned to TU this year as head coach, Villa Maria approached him about the run/walk.

"I was asked by Villa Maria if we would participate and, of course, agreed," Ambrose said.

But the conversation didn't end there. Ambrose wanted to strengthen the team's link to the youngsters.

"We decided to take a good idea and make it a great idea," he said.

Earlier this month, the entire Tiger team visited Villa Maria to "scrimmage" the youngsters, and also shared a meal with them.

"Kids look up to athletes," Ambrose said. "We're role models de facto."

The youngsters at Villa Maria "come from bad places with bad experiences," he said. "All they have is consistent bad experience -- there is no consistent positive experience."

Ambrose is working to arrange weekly visits for 10 to 15 Tigers to Villa Maria to tutor kids and mentor them. He knows his players will not only help the children but learn a few important life lessons as well.

"If you've got a chance to make a difference, you should," Ambrose said. "You are responsible to things greater than yourself."

Shear welcomes that sentiment. She said when people who don't work at Villa Maria visit the facility just to spend time with the children, the act shows the youngsters that they matter, she said.

"It sends a pretty powerful message that, 'I care about you.' "

Athletes on track

About 25 kids from Villa Maria took part in Sunday's walk. Patrice Flagle, a therapist at Villa Maria, said the children "feel good about themselves. ... They're learning to give back to the community."

Others were learning the same lesson. In addition to football players, the Towson women's track and cross country teams took part in the event.

Roger Erricker, head coach for those Tigers' teams, has been volunteering at the fundraiser for years and usually brings his players along.

"Most of them would be sleeping in on a Sunday morning," said Erricker, who added that the students didn't mind getting up early. "It's just part of us being able to give back."

The women's track team worked in the stadium, while women's cross country members led more than 100 walkers along the 5k route, which left the stadium and traveled around the campus and back.

White Marsh native Megan DiGregorio, a senior at Towson and captain of the cross country team, acknowledged she was a bit exhausted from a meet the day before, but added, "I personally enjoy doing volunteer work."

Other area schools also came to the event as walkers and runners. Among them were students and athletes from schools including Calvert Hall College High School, Park School, Oldfields School, Ridgely Middle, Friends School, St. Paul's School for Girls, Gilman, Hereford Middle, Roland Park Country, Maryvale Preparatory and Loyola Blakefield.

"They're having a great time," said Donald Davis, Calvert Hall's football coach.

Frankie Kelly, a senior at Calvert Hall who plays wide receiver, safety and quarterback on the football team, said, "We're excited to be here walking and donating for the kids."

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