July 10, 2013
PHILADELPHIA - Recent Saint Joseph's graduate Chatilla van Grinsven made a major impact during her short time on Hawk Hill. Playing just one season with the Hawks, the starting forward led the women's basketball team to the 2013 Atlantic 10 title and a NCAA Tournament appearance, while off the court she proved to be a person for others and established the non-profit organization Children's Hope United.
Children's Hope United Homepage
Created with the goal of contributing significant amounts of assistance in order to improve the situation of deprived children in Morocco, Children's Hope United helps supply children with nutritional support, clothing, educational support and funding for creation of recreational facilities.
"My deepest inspiration behind Children's Hope United lays in these few words: 'Dare to be Great'. Greatness is more than what you can achieve in sports, in the classroom or at work. I believe your real `greatness' shines brightest when you strive to make others around you better, in any way possible," said van Grinsven.
A native of Helmond, Netherlands, van Grinsven began being a person for others at a young age as her father adopted an orphanage in his native Morocco. Her dedication to helping and volunteering has continued with her and was apparent at Saint Joseph's. Heavily involved in the community during her time with the Hawks, van Grinsven was twice named the team's Roosevelt Hunter Community Service Award recipient, and was an active member of the "Heart of a Hawk" service program.
"As a proud member of Saint Joseph's women's basketball team, I have learned that the University goes beyond serving just an education. I have learned a lot over the course of my stay on Hawk Hill, especially to comprise the will to live greater as a part of human nature," van Grinsven said. "The term 'Magis' is the word I strive for every day, that is to 'live greater', not only to strive for better in the classroom and to compete with the best as an athlete, but also in the community...As Saint Joseph's has inspirited me in so many different ways to live greater, I now hope through the Children's Hope United Foundation to do the same and create opportunities for those children so they can live greater and fulfill their dreams too."
On the court, van Grinsven led the Hawks in scoring and rebounding this season en route to being named an A-10 All-Conference First Team selection. The starting forward posted 16 double-doubles this season, and averaged 14.9 points and 10.4 rebounds per game, becoming just the fifth player in team history to average a double-double for the season. The 10th Hawk to be named to Big 5 Player of the Year, van Grinsven etched her name in the SJU record books in several categories as her 333 rebounds were third most in a single season, while her 47 blocked shots tied for fourth. van Grinsven ended the season leading the Hawks in scoring 19 times and rebounding 26 times. Scoring over 1,000 career points combined at Colorado State and SJU, she was also named to the A-10 Championship All-Tournament Team, Hawk Classic All-Tournament Team, the Gator Holiday Classic All-Tournament Team and A-10's nominees for theNCAA Woman of the Year award.
This summer, van Grinsven has returned to her native Netherlands to compete with the Dutch National Team after spending training camp with the WNBA's Connecticut Sun. This fall, she will begin her professional career with CJM Bourges Basket in France.
Now embarking on the next chapter of her life, van Grinsven is exhibiting the values and knowledge she gained from her time at Saint Joseph's University as she balances being a professional basketball player and a person for others.
For more information, or to donate, go to www.childrenshopeunited.org.
