POUGHKEEPSIE, New York – Marist College athletics will participate in the One Love 2020 College Athletics Challenge. This is the first year of the Challenge, which is designed to encourage every NCAA DI, II and III school to host at least one One Love workshop by June 1, 2020, in an effort to provide relationship health education to athletes across the country.
 
"We're excited to participate in the One Love Foundation College Athletics Challenge as it aligns with our goals for providing education and awareness to our student-athletes on this topic," stated Gates.
 
One Love was founded in honor of Yeardley Love, a 22-year-old college student-athlete who was killed by her ex-boyfriend. After her death, the family started the One Love Foundation to educate young people about the difference between healthy and unhealthy relationships.
 
Marist student-athletes have participated in promoting the values of the One Love Foundation for many years. They have raised awareness with the White Ribbon Campaign the past 11 years. The White Ribbon Campaign is one of the largest movements of men and boys to end male violence against women and girls. This past season, the Marist Center for Student-Athlete Enhancement partnered with the Marist football team to host a #SetTheExpectation game on October 20. The #SetTheExpectation campaign engages male athletes and coaches to be the solution to end sexual assault and physical violence.
 
A pair of lacrosse players have earned recognition by the One Love Foundation for their positive contributions off the field. Rising senior Emma LeMay and alumni Joseph Radin '16 were named finalists for the Yeardley Reynolds Love Unsung Hero Award in 2018 and 2016 respectively.
 
At the end of the One Love College Athletics Challenge, the One Love Foundation will hold its first ever One Love 2020 Sports Summit hosted by the University of Virginia in June of 2020. This one-day summit will bring together student-athlete leaders and administrative supporters to honor Yeardley's life and collaborate about the future of relationship health education in athletics.