MARIETTA, Ohio — One organization plans to use the donation as a way to get more indoor exercise, while another group sees the gift as a motivational tool for students to complete their homework.
 
It is those type of examples that makes the donation by Marietta College's Athletic Department of two Xbox 360 gaming systems and two Nintendo Wii systems to area organizations that much more satisfying.

“Marietta College embraces the idea of civic engagement across the entire campus including the athletics department,” said Derek Stanley, Marietta's Cross Country and Track & Field coach. “The opportunity to give these game systems to the Marietta community supports the mission of the College and its commitment to helping the community in which it resides.”
 
The athletes competing in the NCAA Division III National Track and Field meet that was hosted by Marietta College in May used the videogame systems. During breaks, the athletes had access to videogames in a hospitality room.
 
The recipients of a game system are the Marietta Family YMCA, the Boys and Girls Club, the Ely Chapman Education Foundation (ECEF), and the O'Neill Senior Center.
 
An official from the Boys and Girls Club said the organization is especially grateful to receive such gifts from the College as they are always looking for ways to keep children occupied during their visits to the establishment. Club programs and services promote and enhance the development of boys and girls by instilling a sense of competence, usefulness, belonging, and influence. The Boys and Girls Clubs are a safe place to learn and grow, all while having fun. 
 
“We're very excited to receive one of the Nintendo Wii systems because our facility is inside and kids can't get a lot of the physical activity that they should,” said Executive Director of the program Sam Anderson. “We can go to parks and other places but this will be a great way for the kids to enjoy exercise from our central location. The gaming system will be a great tool for physical activity, socialization, and the like. We are thrilled that Marietta College has donated this to our program.”
 
Ely Chapman is a non-profit organization whose mission is to provide enrichment programs for the community at large, including hands-on learning, and job training skills for diverse backgrounds. Alice Chapman, Founder and Board Chair of ECEF, believes the Xbox 360 and Rock Band game they are receiving will prove to be a great learning tool for middle school students.
 
“The Xbox 360 gaming system that we are receiving will be a great tool for Ely Chapman Education Foundation to use as an incentive for our kids to do their homework,” Chapman said. “After homework completion, the kids can play the games offered, like Rock Band, and learn a lot of things from it. I am an advocate for learning while having fun and this is will provide that opportunity. Hopefully it will help with their hand-eye coordination and their interactivity. This is one way that the middle school students can learn a new skill while having fun.”
 
Stanley believes supporting the community that helped so much during the championship weekend is an important part of the Marietta College ideal and he believes such involvement should not go unnoticed.
 
“The community did a wonderful job of helping the visitors for the national championship feel welcome,” Stanley said. “The feedback has been overwhelmingly positive. It is our pleasure to give back to the community that helped us during the national championship weekend.”