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GIA D'AGOSTINO
Louie's Kids
"Helping Kids In Need"
By Gus Teren



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Between the busy schedule of academics, work and sports (Gia is a member of the Cougar women's soccer team) it's hard for many students to find time to volunteer in the community, but not for Gia D'Agostino!

Gia has been lending a helping hand to the community for quite some time now spending time with Louie's Kids, a local non-profit organization which helps children affected by obesity.

Gia lends her time by spending 16 weeks helping young children realize the importance of exercise and proper nutrition in order to lead a long and healthy life. With in this 16-week period Gia spends time with children from Mitchell Elementary School participating in exercises such as crunches, martial arts, and even playing basketball. Yes, this exercise is great for these children, but their playtime is also supplemented with a nutritionist and psychologist who teach these children the fundamentals of leading not only a healthy, but a happy life as well.

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Gia spending time with one of Louie's kids
About Gia D'Agostino...
Hometown: Weyland, Pa. Major: Exercise Science Expected Graduation: May 2009

Past Volunteer Activites:Heart Health at MUSC and Habitat for Humanity

Current Volunteer Activities: Gia currently gives her time to Louie's Kids, a local non-profit organization. Louie's Kids helps children from low-income families exercise and practice proper nutrition.

What drives you to be a volunteer? Just being able to reach out and lend my services to help others is one of the reasons I enjoy volunteering. Also, being able to share my knowledge with these children in a way to reshape their lives is awesome to be a part of. Lastly, seeing the epidemic of obesity in the United States and wanting to teach kids how to eat healthier and live healthier lives is a challenge with in itself.

What are you most proud of contributing to your organizations? Firstly, I am most proud of the friendships I have developed with the kids, and secondly helping a child lose 40 pounds. Just seeing the weight these children lose and being a mentor to these children is just extremely fulfilling.

What would you tell someone who is thinking about volunteering? I would tell others that volunteering is fun. Just being able to reach out to others and do your best to better their lives is a great feeling. You don't realize the situations of others and how different their lives are compared to yours. It's cool to influence others and make them feel better about themselves. Overall it is just a rewarding feeling to have an impact on someone else's life.

How do your friends/co-workers describe you? My friends would describe me as outgoing with kids. I also like to think I am a very positive person, as well as a good motivator.

What are you inspirations? My inspirations include some of my past soccer coaches as well as my family. The obesity epidemic is also an occurrence on my mothers side of the family, which for me is very scary to see.
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