CATALINA, Calif. ? Several members of the UC San Diego Athletics Department spent the day on Catalina Island Tuesday in support of Operation Purple, an organization dedicated to serving military families. The group visited roughly 100 children from the greater San Diego area that are attending a weeklong summer camp on the island.

A total of 15 student-athletes, coaches, and administrators made the trip and participated in such group activities as snorkeling, kayaking, scavenger hunts, and a soccer game led by Triton coaches and players. Jon Pascale, UCSD's head men's soccer coach, partnered with the Sierra Club to fund the trip.

“Being a part of Operation Purple was a very special experience and spending the day with such a great group of kids really made an impact on each one of us,” Pascale said. “The Operation Purple Staff were very welcoming and it was incredible to watch what they're doing with these kids. We feel lucky to be involved and look forward to going back next year.”

In addition to coaches and players from the men's soccer program, representatives from women's basketball, women's crew, softball, and swimming also participated in the event.

Operation Purple was created in 2004 after the National Military Family Association (NMFA) recognized the need for more resources to support military children. A summer camp program was created as a way to help children of deployed parents. The organization stresses the toll deployment takes on children, as well as their parents, and provides a way for kids to interact with others in similar situations.

Since its pilot season Operation Purple has hosted more than 10,000 military children who have or will have a parent deployed in the armed forces. In 2008, there will be 100 weeks of camp held in 62 locations in 37 states and territories.

Information in this release courtesy of www.nmfa.org