Fairfield, Conn. - Graduated Fairfield University women’s lacrosse player Danielle Russo (Chelmsford, Mass.) was announced as a recipient of a Community Awareness Award, announced Monday by the Intercollegiate Women’s Lacrosse Coaches Association (IWLCA). The award recognizes those student-athletes who have distinguished themselves through community service. One of three honorees - Libby Nichols (Philadelphia University) and Ashley Barnes (Washington & Lee University) – Russo will receive her award at the IWLCA All-America Banquet, Saturday May 25 in King of Prussia, Pa.
“I am honored and touched to have been selected as a recipient of this award,” said Russo. “I was surprised to have been selected out of all the nominees as I do it to help others, not for recognition.”
Russo is extremely active in her local Best Buddies program, participating in the program that aids the mentally handicapped and learning disabled by organizing events and activities. When talking about her involvement, specifically with her friend Chris, she again minimizes her efforts by saying “I don’t do it because I am a good person, I do it because we’re friends.” She was a constant presence in the life of Grace Evanko, Fairfield’s adopted 10 year old that passed away this spring after a three-year battle with brain cancer.
“We are thrilled Danielle has been recognized for a tremendous act of selflessness that she did quietly, on her own, with no intent of recognition or award,” said Fairfield head coach Mike Waldvogel. “While she needed no thanks for her efforts, this award is a tribute to her character and we are happy that she can be recognized for the great person she is.”
The senior also made a huge difference in the life of a man she has never met as she donated her bone marrow to a man in October. Even though Russo knew that going through the procedure would medically prohibit her from participating in practice and games due to the toll it would take on her body, Russo made the decision to go ahead with the treatment.
The week leading up to the donation, Fairfield’s last week of fall ball, Russo was forced to skip her last scrimmage weekend and forgo practices to take injections to boost her cell count and create more red blood cells. She went to Boston on Sunday, October 28th and went in for the donation on the 29th, the same time that Hurricane Sandy was making landfall in New England. As public transportation in Boston, and the hospital itself, was shutting down in anticipation of the hurricane, Russo faced another choice to go through with the donation and possibly strand herself in the middle of a hurricane. She stayed as they crammed a six-to-eight hour process into four hours, waited in a nearby hotel to hear if she had given enough platelets, and was finally green-lighted to return home in the height of the hurricane two hours later.
Russo helped lead the Stags to 49 wins and three Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) Regular Season Titles over the course of her four years. She worked her way from reserve to key starter, earning the nod in all 18 games of 2013 and being part of a defensive unit that ranks fourth in the nation in scoring defense. Russo finished her career with four goals, 22 ground balls and 15 caused turnovers.
Russo graduated from Fairfield on Sunday with a B.A. in Communications.