COLUMBIA, Mo. – For any company or organization, the ability to give back to their local community is a crucial part of their day-to-day operations. Mizzou Athletics is no different, as they continue to work with several local groups in the Columbia area.

Every year, local residents will see Mizzou student-athletes and members of coaching staffs from numerous Mizzou sports programs making a positive impact in the community. While they may not gain as much attention as their student-athlete counterparts, staff members from Mizzou Athletics have also continually made their presence known around mid-Missouri.

Recently, individuals from Mizzou Athletics’ strategic communications office aided in two exciting community service projects. Beginning with the departments’ new “Adopt-A-Spot” location off Forum and Nifong in Columbia, staff members have made it a priority this summer to help beautify their newly appointed spot.

“It was such a great opportunity to head outside the office, and make a positive impact on behalf of Mizzou Athletics,” said assistant director of strategic communications Jenny Dewar. “We spent about an hour picking out weeds, cleaning up trash and making our Adopt-A-Spot look better than ever. I know everyone is looking forward to making this location look as great as possible all year long!”

Leading the charge in Mizzou Athletics’ new Adopt-A-Spot location is Lindsey Miller from the Tiger Scholarship Fund. Entering her seventh year inside TSF, Miller serves as the Director of Development in annual giving for her respective department.
As a former graduate from the University of Missouri in 2004, Miller has built a special connection with the Columbia community and knows the importance of giving back to the area she has grown to love.

“Maintaining something like an Adopt-A-Spot might appear small, but it can truly make a big impact inside a community like Columbia,” said Miller. “Mizzou Athletics will continue to make our presence known inside the area, and we look forward to helping out this city for years to come!”

Another organization that Mizzou Athletics continues to build a positive relationship with is Missouri Meals on Wheels. The Columbia Meals on Wheels location has been supporting the local community for over 40 years and relies heavily on aid from volunteers such as Mizzou Athletics staff members.

Meals on Wheels of Columbia strives to assist individuals with problems related to nutrition and health, by providing delivery of a hot nutritious meal to home-bound people of any age, people with limited ability or incentive to shop or cook, and people recovering from recent hospitalization regardless of their ability to pay.

JoNetta Weaver, Executive Director of Columbia Meals on Wheels, leads the training program for all new volunteers of the program. Between 100 and 120 meals are delivered each day throughout the area every Monday through Friday. Needless to say, the ability to have passionate and dedicated volunteers for the program is key for Weaver and the rest of her staff.

“Meals on Wheels is highly dependent on volunteers to deliver hot meals to senior citizens in Columbia,” said Weaver. “It is so rewarding when a group of working adults join together to drive once a week. Recently Mizzou Athletics came as a group to be trained and then share a route on Tuesdays. It’s a great example of collaboration between a business and a non-profit!”

Mizzou Athletics has been a mainstay in countless number of local Columbia organizations. This has included associations with Granny’s House, Boone County Master Gardner, Walk to End Alzheimer’s, United Way, Central Missouri Humane Society, Special Olympics of Missouri, Rainbow House, and Crossing Kids.

For more information on volunteer opportunities with Columbia Meals on Wheels, please visit their website at http://www.mealsonwheelscolumbia.org/ or contact JoNetta Weaver at mowheels@gmail.com.

Stay tuned to MUTigers.com throughout the summer and upcoming school year for more exclusive content. You can also follow Mizzou Athletics on Twitter @MUTigersDotCom

Source: http://www.mutigers.com/genrel/070214aag.html

The University of Minnesota Duluth Department of Intercollegiate Athletics has been involved with the Special Olympics program for decades and the association continued last weekend at Stillwater Area High School where Lauren Bruha was on hand. The junior-to-be sprinter/hurdler from Prior Lake, Minn., volunteered at the awards tent during the three-day Minnesota Summer Special Olympics, handing out medals and visiting the some of the 1,200 participants and 600 coaches who took part in the event.

Bruha and UMD’s other 400-plus student-athletes have logged approximately 2,000 volunteer hours since the start of the 2013-14 school year.

Source: http://umdbulldogs.com/news/2014/7/1/WTRACK_0701144219.aspx

“Over the summer, Redbird student-athletes have been taking time out of their schedules to volunteer and participate in community service activities including the Special Olympics, manned by the women’s volleyball team, and the cold water challenge, taken on by members and coaching staff of the women’s basketball team.

Most recently, head women’s basketball coach Barb Smith was challenged to the cold water challenge, which she accepted and participated in Tuesday. The challenge supports the Kay Yow Cancer Fund and is held at Duffy Bass Field.

Once a coach, athlete or administrator has been challenged, they have 48 hours to answer the challenge by being doused with ice-cold water. If a head coach does not answer the challenge, they pay $250 to the foundation. If they do, the challenging coach owes $50.

Assistant coaches who do not participate once challenged owe $100, and if they do, the challenger owes $25.

Students are also getting in on the spirit of giving. Those who do not answer the challenge owe five hours of community service, and if they accept, the challenger owes two hours.

Smith was challenged by Missouri head women’s basketball coach and former ISU head coach Robin Pingeton. Those who also stepped under the bucket were assistant coaches Erin Dickerson and Lisa Hayden, Director of Basketball Operations Annie Isler, Deputy Director of Athletics/Senior Women’s Administrator Leanna Bordner and senior guard Katy Winge.

After accepting their challenge, the women passed it forward onto Wichita State head coach Jody Adams and Northern Illinois head coach Kathi Bennett.

Another ISU team that has been participating in volunteer opportunities over the summer is the women’s volleyball team, which aided in the Bloomington Special Olympics.

Incoming freshman Frankie Taylor, Mariah Rayhons and Jaelyn Keene along with senior Emily Schneider and redshirt freshman Annchara Montgomery engaged with the Special Olympics Athletes and participated in games like hockey and soccer.

Montgomery, a first-time volunteer, was surprised at the magnitude of the event.

“I didn’t expect so many people to be there so it just made me feel like I as a part of something great,” Montgomery said. “It was a really nice experience.”

Schneider, a long-time Redbird volunteer, also enjoyed participating in the events.

“It was a great experience to interact with the Special Olympics athletes,” Schneider said. “It was rewarding to be a part of such an amazing experience.”

The Summer Games are an annual event held in Bloomington-Normal with over 4,000 athletes and 2,500 volunteers, including numerous members of the Illinois State community.”

Source: http://www.videtteonline.com/index.php/2014/07/01/birds-give-back-during-summer/

A coach’s mentoring program encourages student athletes to give back.

JEFFREY CONYERS
Head coach, Southern University women’s tennis

Southern University Women’s Tennis head coach Jeffrey Conyers says young people might ignore repeated preaching by family members wanting to steer them in the right direction.

But he is hoping they pay attention when he and his student athletes deliver a similar message.

Conyers was urged by a colleague to consider the Big Buddy Program when looking for a volunteer opportunity understanding of his demanding coaching schedule.

Not only did Conyers become a mentor to an 8-year-old boy, but he was also inspired to start J.A.G. Buddies, a mentoring program at Southern University designed to encourage student athletes to give back.

Conyers and students from the tennis and cross country teams were paired with little buddies from Dalton Elementary School at a match ceremony in September. Participants now include Southern athletes from other sports.

Conyers says he interacts with his little buddy at least twice a month, and the relationship has been mutually beneficial.

“He kind of reminded me of myself: a quiet young fellow, but now he’s starting to open up,” Conyers says. “He talks a great deal more. Myself as well. It’s a win-win for both of us.”

Conyers notes that while his schedule prevents him from attending all of the activities Big Buddy plans, he tries to be present at as many as possible to “share a positive image with these young people.”

Mentors have a one-year trial period with the program during which all activities are supervised. When Conyers and the college-age mentors complete that phase, they’ll be able to meet and do more activities with their buddies.

The coach says he’s looking forward to introducing his little buddy to college life, “so we can keep him on the right track and give him something to look forward to in the near future.”

TO GET INVOLVED with the Big Buddy Program, call (225) 388-9737 or email bigbuddy@bigbuddyprogram.org.

By Emily Kern Hebert
Published Jun 23, 2014
Source: http://ht.ly/ytL5J

FULTON, Miss. (WCBI/LetsGoICC.com) – Members of the Itawamba Community College football and men’s basketball team took time out of their summer to help give back to the community by volunteering with April’s Angels to help build their handicap playground at Itawamba Attendance Center on Monday.

“It’s good to be able to come out and show these kids how much we appreciate them by coming out as a team and help building this new playground for them,” said ICC football player Antonio Clifton of Tupelo.

“It means a lot to be able to give back to the community like this because growing up we didn’t have places like this,” said ICC basketball player Ron Davis of Raymond.

The playground will be all-inclusive and will have sensory panels for children who are tactile learners along with auditory panels for children who are stimulated by sound. It will also feature a poured rubber surface that will allow students with wheelchairs, walkers, and crutches to easily maneuver to the wheelchair ramp to gain access to a whole new exciting world.

“It feels good to be out here and helping the community by building this playground,” said ICC football player Stanley Higgins of Starkville. “I hope they’re able to have a good time on it and enjoy themselves.”

April’s Angels is a non-profit organization established to benefit the area of special needs at Itawamba Attendance Center and honors the memory of former Lee and Itawamba County educator April South.

Source: http://www.wcbi.com/wordpress/icc-student-athletes-give-back-to-fulton-community