WEST HAVEN, Conn. – The University of New Haven Department of Athletics will be holding its 3rd Annual Community Day on Saturday, October 15 when the Charger football team hosts American International College in a Northeast-10 Conference showdowns. The game will kickoff at 1 p.m., while a variety of community based activities promoting a positive community environment are planned to start at 10 a.m. at the UNH Athletic Complex.

In the week leading up to the big game, local businesses will be “Painting the Town Blue” through an initiative to promote the game in the community. Business owners at Flower Affair, Gold Works, Teddi and Archell’s, Cappetta’s Italian Imports and throughout downtown West Haven will be decorating their storefronts with Charger blue and gold in a contest which will be judged by members of the UNH football and cheerleading teams.

The Community Day events will continue on game day when the Chargers host their 3rd Annual Pizza Challenge during pregame tailgating activities at the UNH Athletic Complex. Beginning at 10 a.m., the Pizza Challenge will feature Full Curcle Pizza, Domenic’s Apizza, West Haven Pizza Palace, Bella Villa Pizza, Cappetta’s Italian Imports and other local pizza vendors who will bring their favorite variety for students, faculty, staff, community members and fans to vote for the town’s “best pizza” during pregame. The UNH Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) will also be on hand to continue their year-long fundraising efforts for the Make-A-Wish Foundation.

Children from the community will also enjoy an exciting day as it is New Haven’s official “Take a Kid to the Game Day.” The national initiative allows for free admittance to all kids accompanied by an adult. Pregame activities for kids will include face painting, inflatables, and a rock climbing wall sponsored by the UNH ROTC program.

As part of the 3rd Annual Community Day, the UNH Dance Team will be hosting its annual dance clinic at 10:30 a.m. Sautrday morning at Charger Gymnasium. The clinic costs $10 and includes a ticket to the game, a picture with the team and the opportunity to perform with the team during halftime.

In conjunction with Community Day, W.H.E.A.T. or West Haven Emergency Assistance Taskforce will be collecting canned food donations near the ticket booth. All fans who bring a canned food item will receive a coupon for $2 off admission price. All UNH students who bring three canned food items will receive a free Big Blue Wrecking Crew t-shirts and part of the "bring three for a tee" promotion.

The 3rd Annual Community Day is part of the UNH Department of Athletics broader community engagement efforts, which seeks to engage the surrounding towns and community organizations while providing opportunities for student-athletes and coaches to interact in the community. Have an idea? Contact UNH Associate Director of Athletics, Susan Zawacki at szawacki@newhaven.edu.