CAMBRIDGE, Mass. – Ted Donato, The Robert D. Ziff '88 Head Coach for Harvard Men's Ice Hockey, announced a new team member, signing 9-year-old Parker Watson through Team IMPACT.
Parker was diagnosed with Leukemia at 4.5 years old. During Parker's three-years of treatment, he developed a love for 80's rock music and is currently learning to play the electric guitar. His other hobbies include chess, coin collecting, playing soccer goalie, and watching all things sports - especially Boston sports teams.
Parker was officially introduced at a signing day press conference on Tuesday, January 31
st at Bright-Landry Hockey Center. He will participate in many activities with the men's hockey team including games, practices, and other team events.
"This experience, and what Team IMPACT does is amazing," said Donato. "It's been a two-way relationship – our players and our team has benefited so much from having Parker around."
Harvard University has worked with Team IMPACT for the past 11 years matching 15 children across its women's field hockey, men's lacrosse, women's water polo, women's swimming, football, men's and women's basketball, men's and women's soccer, men's wrestling, and men's and women's ice hockey teams.
Team IMPACT, a national non-profit organization, has developed a unique multiyear program that matches children facing serious illness and disability with college athletic teams across the country. Based on a clinical model, Team IMPACT guides a symbiotic relationship between teams and children focused on socialization, empowerment, and resilience.
"Team IMPACT is thrilled to see Parker officially sign his letter of intent with the Crimson," said Ryan Irwin, Executive Director, Northeast for Team IMPACT. "Over the past decade, Harvard University and Team IMPACT have built an incredibly strong partnership, making a true impact on kids and families in their community, signing 15 children onto teams all-time. We are very proud to build upon this momentum and work alongside their campus leadership, athletic department, and coaching staff to create life-changing outcomes for their student-athletes and their Team IMPACT teammates. Go Crimson!"
About Team IMPACT
Team IMPACT's unique multiyear program signs children facing serious illness and disability onto college athletic teams across the country. Based on a clinical model, Team IMPACT guides a symbiotic relationship between teams and children focused on socialization, empowerment, and resilience, ensuring everyone involved has the personalized game plan they need to win – effectively building confidence and independence. Founded in 2011, Team IMPACT has matched more than 2,300 children with 700+ colleges and universities in all 50 states, impacting more than 60,000 student-athletes. If you know a child or team who may be interested, please visit
www.teamimpact.org.
