NORTH BRUNSWICK, N.J. (October 5, 2012) – The Drew University Women's Basketball team will be this year's recipient the Distinguished Community Service Award given by The Arc of New Jersey.

Each year the ARC of New Jersey holds an awards program that honors the best in individual, organizational and corporate support for people with developmental disabilities and their families. This year The Arc of New Jersey will present the Drew Women's Basketball team as the statewide winner of the Distinguished Community Service Award in a ceremony in November.

Last season, the women's basketball team worked locally with the Arc Morris once or twice a week during the season as well as in the offseason. The team was able to provide some new games and fitness activities for the local members on the campus of Drew and at the ARC Morris facilities in Morristown.

“Our partnership with the ARC Morris has been such an amazing experience for us, and I speak for every member of our team when I say, we are the ones who have truly benefited from this relationship,” said Head Women's Basketball Coach Brittany Gaetano.  “Our friends at the ARC Morris are some of the best people we have ever met.”

The work done by the basketball team became the foundation of a permanent community outreach at Drew. After the response of both Arc Morris members and the student-athletes, Drew decided to make it a class which is taught by Gaetano and is open to the entire Drew student body.

“The ARC Morris has given our team some of the most special relationships that they will ever know. This class is a great opportunity to extend these relationships beyond our team and expand it within the the Drew Community,” added Gaetano.

The ceremony will be held November 14, 2012 at the New Jersey Law Center in New Brunswick will honor the team and other award winners from around the state of New Jersey.