If you’ve been to a GA football game this fall, you may have noticed a group of younger spectators cheering alongside Upper School students. Hours earlier, those same kids were crafting tissue-paper hedgehogs and sharing pizza with GA volunteers.
The young fans are from Gemma Services, an organization that supports children ages 6 to 14 who have experienced loss, trauma, and other significant challenges. They visit campus through Buddy Days, a program that pairs them with GA students for a day of crafts, lunch and football (and, once the season ends, basketball).
This year, Ainsley Buerger ‘28 and Adriana Wenneker-Niggemeier ‘28 have taken the helm, after spending last year as regular volunteers.
Buerger’s involvement began with a single event.
“Last year I started getting involved with Buddy Days, and after the first one I found that I really enjoyed it,” Buerger said. “After that, I made it my mission to go to every one that I could make it to.”
Wenneker-Niggemeier followed a similar path.
“The connections I was able to build with the kids over time made it really special, and so, when the opportunity arose, I was really excited to be able to plan, organize, and lead Buddy Days as well,” Wenneker-Niggemeier said.
At the end of last year, the pair approached Community Service Organization (CSO) faculty supervisor Mr. Robert Moyer about running the program themselves, and he agreed.
A typical Buddy Day begins before the guests arrive. To ensure a smooth start for the children from Gemma Services at 11:00 am, GA volunteers gather 15 to 20 minutes early to set up the day’s activity. The morning combines arts and crafts with games of catch, tag and hide-and-seek, giving the kids and volunteers ample time to get to know one another. Afterwards, the group shares a pizza lunch before heading up to the stadium to cheer on the GA football team.
“It always made my day seeing how happy the kids were when doing crafts, hanging out with new friends, and playing with all of the students who volunteered for the Buddy Day,” Buerger said.
For the new leaders, the program’s value lies in the relationships that develop over time.
“One of my favorite moments from Buddy Days was last year when there was one girl who came to the event especially often. She always recognized Ainsley and I and would run up to us whenever she saw us,” Wenneker-Niggemeier said. “We built a connection with her and always had so much fun!”
Under their leadership, Buerger and Wenneker-Niggemeier hope to increase the turnout of GA volunteers. Last year, the program occasionally struggled to find enough participants, but this year’s first Buddy Day drew more than 15, a number they hope to maintain while adding more events to the calendar.
“It’s a way for students to learn about others, make connections, and spend quality time,” Adrianna said. “For the students from Gemma Services, it is a moment they look forward to all week and an opportunity to have fun with GA kids.”
Buddy Days has been part of GA’s community service tradition for years. Under Buerger and Wenneker-Niggemeier, that tradition will continue, bringing kids from Gemma Services to campus and into the stands on game days.