When they represent the University of North Carolina in intercollegiate competition, UNC teams focus on different numbers: goals scored, assists given, averages raised, rebounds grabbed, routines nailed, PRs run, distances covered.

But here’s one impressive number on which they all worked together: 2,176. That’s the total of community service hours donated so far in the 2013-14 school year by UNC student-athletes. With more than a month remaining in the spring semester, the number of hours already has surpassed last year’s total by more than 100 hours. Last year’s total was 2,047 hours.

Those hours have benefited a long list of groups and organizations, including UNC Children’s Hospital, UNC Lineberger Cancer Center, Carolina Dreams, Vs. Cancer, several local elementary schools, Ronald McDonald House, Durham Social Services, Orange County Habitat for Humanity, the Charles House, Single Fathers Due to Cancer and the North Carolina Jaycee Burn Center, to name just a few.

“We’re extremely proud of all the time our student-athletes spend helping others in our community,” said Cricket Lane, assistant athletic director for student-athlete development. “It’s amazing to me that they contribute the hours that they do, considering all of the other demands on their time. We know that the time they devote to Carolina Outreach is well-spent, both for the people our student-athletes are helping and for the student-athletes themselves.

One or two members of each squad serve as Carolina Outreach team representatives, helping to organize events and get their teammates involved, and that group of representatives meets monthly to discuss upcoming events and ideas. At each meeting, student-athletes fill out reflection sheets detailing the events in which their team has participated and their take-aways from the experience. Here are some of the comments from this year:

“Coaching the kids helped me remember the joy that soccer brings people and reminded me why I love the game!”
“It was great being able to cheer on the same people who cheer us on during our meets. It let the community know how much we appreciate them.”
“All of us know someone affected by cancer. Being able to raise money to help beat it is something we all felt connected to.”
“I learned that even in difficult life situations, people find the positives. And if people have endured worse things than I have and are still positive, then I should be able to do it.”
“We learned that helping others and reaching out can make a difference for them and for us. We will look for more opportunities to reach out.”
And as they do, the most impactful statistic of the school year will continue to rise.

Story posted from GoHeels.com.

Source: http://www.unc.edu/campus-updates/student-athletes-outreach-hours-top-last-years-total/

Aurora, Colo. – Between games and taking in the sights and sounds of the beautiful state of Colorado, the Mercy College women’s lacrosse team visited the Children’s Hospital Colorado on the Anschutz Medical Campus on Friday afternoon.

“It was an eye-opening experience for our team, because the everyday struggles we face on the field are nothing compared to their every day,” senior Kelsey Bub said. “It was also really fun and enjoyable to spend time with all the great kids!”

The team was spilt into two separate groups and the student-athletes took time to do some arts and crafts with several patients. Many of the players did drawings and took time to talk to the kids to learn more about them and their condition.

“It was a great experience for the team,” Head Coach Dawn Anselmin said. “They saw children fighting every day and it puts life into prospective to never take anything for granted or give up in anything you do.”

Children’s Hospital Colorado is part of a large network of hospitals with locations all around the state. The Anschutz Medical Campus is described as the cornerstone of the hospital’s growing health care services. This location is the most comprehensive in providing care for children of all ages and is the only level 1 trauma center in the region.

About Children Hospital Colorado

When it was founded in 1908 in Denver, Children’s Hospital Colorado set out to be a leader in providing the best healthcare outcomes for children. That calling has consistently made us one of the top 10 children’s hospitals in the nation and a place parents across the Rocky Mountain region have come to trust. Read more about our top ranking by U.S. News & World Report and other awards.

Our modern-day mission is to improve the health of children through the provision of high-quality coordinated programs of patient care, education, research and advocacy.

In addition to providing the best possible care for kids who need it, we also work hard to keep kids out of the hospital. Through medical research and advocacy efforts, we are working towards a world where kids are safer and healthier and will one day have less need for a hospital.

Provided by the Mercy Sports Information Department.

CASA GRANDE, Ariz. – With all the residents at the Grande Sports Academy on spring break this week, the residential staff has kept the student-athletes busy with a handful of off-the-field activities.

On Wednesday morning, twelve GSA players volunteered at Oasis Pavilion Nursing & Rehabilitation Center’s Spring Carnival. On Thursday morning, thirteen student-athletes visited the Pinal County Animal Care and Control whose mission is to provide rabies control, enforcement, protection, education, and adoption services to Pinal County residents so they can live in a community that promotes responsible pet ownership and is protected from diseased and aggressive domestic animals.

Officer Trey Pickett spoke to the student-athletes for 20 minutes about a variety of topics that covered dogs, reptiles and other mammals that live in the desert. Pickett then walked the thirteen players through and facility and showed them all the dogs they have in their care. At the end of Pickett’s presentation, the players had an opportunity to play with a few dogs in the Pinal County Animal Care and Control’s playground.

“It was really nice going there today and seeing all the dogs,” said Gui Leme. “I’m looking forward to going back there to volunteer and to work with the dogs.”

Student attendees: Conor Orton, Evan Waldrep, Luke Novick, Jack Gayton, Dillon Nino, Pato Yrizar, Christian Herrera, D.J. Villegas, Adam Ferguson, Gui Leme, Alex Knox, Judah Rashirai and Terrell Lowe.

“Today’s orientation was a great first step in our efforts to do more community service projects with the local humane society,” said Lauren Crum, Director of Academic and Personal Development at the Grande Sports Academy. “The animal control officers provided our student-athletes with great information and we are looking forward to assisting the shelter this summer.”

Source: http://www.grandesportsacademy.com/inside-grande-pinal-county-animal-care-control-community-service/

FRANKFORT, Ky. — Before they begin play in the NAIA Division I Women’s Basketball National Championships, members of the Wayland Baptist Flying Queens took time Tuesday morning to give back.

During national tournament week, student-athletes are given the chance to participate in outreach events through the NAIA Champions of Character program. These events allow the student-athletes to give back to the community that hosts the event.

For members of the Flying Queens, that meant taking time to read with students at Peaks Mill Elementary School.

The Champions of Character program is designed to help instill values that build character so students, coaches and parents know and do the right thing on and off the field.

The 18th-ranked Flying Queens (20-11) open play in the 32-team tournament by taking on 15th-ranked Lewis-Clark State College (26-5) of Idaho at 11 a.m. Wednesday at Frankfort Convention Center.

Live streaming of all Flying Queens games, as well as the Pioneers’ national tournament games from Kansas City, Mo., will be shown for free at the Laney Center on the Wayland campus. Private cost to watch streaming is $24.95 for a tournament pass or $9.95 for a single day.

For more information, go to www.naia.org.

Source: http://www.myplainview.com/sports/article_2f411562-aede-11e3-b74d-001a4bcf887a.html

CASA GRANDE, Ariz. – On Wednesday morning, twelve Grande Sports Academy student-athletes volunteered at Oasis Pavilion Nursing & Rehabilitation Center’s Spring Carnival. The participating GSA volunteers were paired up at different stages and helped in various games.

The GSA student-athletes helped the residents in eight different games that included: basketball throw, duck fishing, putt-putt golf, lollipop pick, ring toss, cornhole, toilet paper toss, three-bucket toss and sticker grab. One resident gave away palm readings, and a handful of the GSA participants enthusiastically had their palms read.

Student attendees: Danny Acosta, Corey Baird, Luis Barraza, Matthias Binder, Kiuno Cann, Kris Fourcand, Leo Fuchs, Jose Hernandez, Moises Rodriguez, Sebastian Saucedo, Miles Stray, and Te Wihongi.

Grande Sports Academy – Matthias Binder“It was very helpful because we had one in the fall and it was basically our volunteers and the employees,” said Tammy Nite, “It worked out well because it’s not as busy as before and the residents look forward to meeting to new people. They get excited about it and were very thankful to have the GSA players here.”

Near the end of the carnival one resident challenged two of our student-athletes to an arm-wrestling contest and won both attempts. Senior Corey Baird, future Stanford University men’s soccer midfielder and current member of the “GSA 4.0 GPA Club”, spoke highly of the event saying, “I’m just really happy to be here with all my teammates and it feels really good to give back to the community. It brings us all together to do something good in helping out people.”