The development of well-rounded young men is a critical element in Texas head coach Charlie Strong’s football program. He not only demands commitment, effort and intensity on the field, but in the classroom, on campus and giving back in the community as well.

Strong requires 10 hours of community service each semester from every member of the football team. Beginning on February 1st, each student-athlete set out to complete five of their required 10 hours volunteering in the community prior to spring break.

“Community service is really important to me,” said Strong. “Our program is going to be active in the community and helping others. We told the guys from day one that we will require that they spend at least 10 hours a semester helping in community outreach programs. We want them all to appreciate how fortunate they are and how important it is to help others and to represent this program and our University in a positive manner. I think they all understand that and have really responded well.”

Prior to spring break, the team completed nearly 600 hours of service. The activities included elementary school visits, a neighborhood clean-up effort through the campus organization “The Project,” spending time with patients at Dell Children’s Medical Center and children and families at the Ronald McDonald House.

About 65 members of the team participated in UT’s Texas Thon held on campus at Gregory Gymnasium. Volunteering anywhere from five to 10 hours for an effort tabbed “For The Kids,” the student-run event raised more than $50,000 for Dell Children’s Medical Center.

Defensive tackle Malcom Brown was one of those team members and was glad he and his teammates had the opportunity to meet the people associated with it and help give back.

“Really, like for what I did, it was just getting out and having fun with little kids,” Brown said. “It’s even more fun than we were thinking it would be. When we saw the chance to do this one, we knew we wanted to do it, and when we got there, everybody was having fun, we met new people, and we were just able to give back.

“They always say the eyes of Texas are upon you, and the way people look up to us and little kids look up to us, and how much that affects them, it means a lot and we want to be there for them.”

Source: http://www.texassports.com/news/2014/3/13/FB_0313143630.aspx

ROCKVILLE CENTRE, N.Y. (Mar. 14, 2014) – Starting tomorrow, March 15, the Molloy College baseball team will play four games in four days at the USA Baseball Training Complex in Cary, N.C. The Lions’ baseball squad has announced the creation of a fundraising event to benefit the Coaches vs. Cancer program. Molloy is joining Merrimack College, Felician College, Southern New Hampshire University, Pace College, the University of New Haven, Caldwell College and Dowling College to support the fight against cancer. Proceeds from each ticket sold at the Coaches vs. Cancer Tournament from March 15-18 will go directly to the cause.

“Participating in an event that can help fight a disease that so many of us have been affected by is very important to all of my players and coaches,” commented Molloy Head Baseball Coach Joe Fucarino.

The Coaches vs. Cancer program empowers coaches, their teams, and communities to join the fight against cancer by participating in awareness efforts, advocacy programs, and fundraising activities. Participation helps people with cancer today, while also helping to find cures to end the disease tomorrow.
Donations to help the cause can be made by clicking here.

Molloy Baseball Schedule for Coaches vs. Cancer Tournament in Cary, N.C.:
Saturday, March 15 — vs. Merrimack — 10 a.m.
Saturday, March 15 — vs. Southern N.H. — 1:30 p.m.
Sunday, March 16 — vs. Pace — 6 p.m.
Tuesday, March 18 — vs. New Haven — 11 a.m.

Source: http://www.molloylions.com/news/2014/3/14/BB_0314142633.aspx?elinkdata=14867

Woodside Middle School Played Host to The Special Olympics Basketball Camp. Nine Counties in Indiana were invited, five of those counties attended. 120 Athletes, 40 Student Volunteers, friends and family all attended the event. See video to hear from Campers and Student Volunteers.

Source: http://www.fortwaynehomepage.net/story/d/story/special-olympics-basketball-hoopla/28114/I1nvUHwncUSgItAZr6-0mQ

— WILLIAMSPORT — Lycoming College will host a training camp March 29-30 for Special Olympics Pennsylvania athletes preparing for the 2014 Special Olympics USA Games scheduled for June 14-21 in Princeton, N.J. A total of 206 athletes and unified partners from across the state will train for a variety of sports, including aquatics, athletics, basketball, bocce, bowling, golf, gymnastics, powerlifting, soccer, softball, tennis and volleyball.

More than 100 Lycoming students will donate their time to the training camp, including students from the Student Senate, the Education Department and Community Service Center, the Student Athlete Advisory Committee and many of the college’s clubs, organizations and athletic teams.

The events, which are free and open to the public, will be held at various times and locations on and off campus. They begin with the Olympic Village from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturday, followed by sports camps from 2 to 5 p.m. and a dance from 8:30 to 10 p.m. Sports camps will continue on Sunday from 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.

Activities on Lycoming’s campus will be held in the Academic Center, Wertz Student Center, Lamade Gymnasium and the Recreation Center. Off-campus training will be held at Faxon Lanes, Dynamat, South Williamsport Park, Williamsport Tennis Club, White Deer Course and Sons of Italy.

Source: http://www.dailyitem.com/panews/x787214685/Lycoming-College-to-host-training-camp-for-Special-Olympics-Pennsylvania-athletes

The University of the Cumberlands (UC) athletic department has a significant amount of student athletes from different athletic programs who partake in community service projects year round. Some participate in building ramps for the elderly with the help of Mountain Outreach, and others go into the local schools to promote health and wellness through fitness activities. For the Patriot Women’s Soccer team, their calling is to the Williamsburg Health and Rehabilitation Center.

The ladies visit the nursing home a couple of times a week to visit with the residents. They have fellowship as well as work on projects to make the residents feel more of a presence of home by painting nails, making crafts, and cooking. Recently, four Patriot ladies visited residents to participate in pie making. Amerah Dixon (Corbin, Ky.), Kelsey Brumley (Paris, Ky.), Monica Kubick (Knoxville, Tenn.), and Whitney Baker (Corbin, Ky.) gathered round a table with the residents in the nursing home’s dining hall where pie crusts and fruits of strawberries and cherries were assembled to make a yummy creation.

The residents did not hesitate to dig in as they began cutting the fruits and making conversation of life, and the importance of togetherness. One resident knew exactly the right measurements of all the ingredients and began teaching the girls how to know when there is enough to make the product. Smiles and laughs could be seen on both sides as the girls assembled the pies and learned skills about baking and life that can always be kept with them.
Dixon added, “Going to the nursing home is a very humbling experience. When we go, they always give us advice from their own past experiences. We go in hopes of brightening up their day, but really they end up putting smiles on our faces and brightening ours.”

“I am extremely proud of the team for what they are doing at the nursing home,” commented Women’s Head Soccer Coach Joe Townsend. “I cannot take credit for what the girls are doing as it was set up by my graduate assistant Brittany Gadd. Brittany and the girls have shown great selflessness to share their time with members of the community. I think it is very important for us to realize how fortunate we are here, and that it is vital to give back to the local community.”

These are just a few examples of the impact that UC’s athletes have on the Williamsburg community and communities around the region.

For more information on the women’s soccer program as well as all other Patriot athletics, please visit www.cumberlandspatriots.com.