Illini Student-Athletes Busy Serving Community in 2015-16
July 15, 2016 | General, Hometown Heroes
Fighting Illini student-athletes were very involved within the community again in 2015-16 through the Hometown Heroes program. Student-athletes from all 19 sports took part in more than 130 events at schools, nursing homes, hospitals, and with organizations such as the Don Moyer Boys & Girls Club, Crisis Nursery, Eastern Illinois Foodbank and Big Brothers Big Sisters.
Here are some of the year's highlights:
• Freshmen student-athletes enrolled in summer school last July visited Camp Granada, a camp for kids who are diabetic, to take part in various activities and encourage the kids to be active.
• Illini student-athletes partnered with Special Spectators in September to provide a week of special events for children from Carle Hospital who are undergoing treatment for cancer or other blood disorders. Football players visited children in the hospital during the week and then on game day provided a tour of the football facility.
• Student-athletes from wrestling, softball, soccer and swimming hosted a tailgate party for the kids and their families before attending the football game vs. Middle Tennessee.
• Every Fighting Illini team joined forces with athletic department staff to provide 52 Thanksgiving baskets for families in need this year.
• During the holidays, student-athletes hosted their annual party for kids on the waiting list of Big Brothers Big Sisters. The kids were able to play games, decorate cookies and ornaments with their favorite Fighting Illini student-athletes and enjoy a visit from Santa, Mrs. Claus and one of Santa's elves before attending a men's basketball home game.
• Through the Angel Tree Project, Fighting Illini teams purchased and wrapped gifts for more than 30 children over the holidays.
• Student-athletes participated in numerous reading events during the year through our 2nd & 7 reading program, reading sport-themed books to second graders about topics such as sportsmanship, teamwork and anti-bullying. Through this program our student-athletes are able to show kids the importance of reading and encourage them to continue to read after the visit by providing each child with their own copy of a book.
• In the spring, the softball team kicked off a new pilot outreach program called F.A.N.S. to encourage elementary school children in four areas (fitness, academics, nutrition, and sportsmanship). The team provided tips in each F.A.N.S. area and led the kids through a variety of activities.
• The women's gymnastics team continued their work at Kenwood Elementary School this year, assisting in classrooms and participating in the school's Trunk or Treat and Craft Nights. The team was recognized for their efforts at the school by the U of I's Office of Volunteer Programs as the recipient of this year's Illini Spirit Award.
• Student-athletes continued their partnership with the Daily Bread Soup Kitchen by bagging snacks and helping serve hot meals during the week and sack lunches on the weekend.
• Fighting Illini student-athletes in February held their annual variety show, Jock Jams, raising more than $10,000 for Cunningham Children's Home, Illinithon, and Uplifting Athletes. Over the past seven years, Illini student-athletes have raised more than $90,000 through this annual event.
• Softball extended normal Hometown Heroes community service reach by volunteering at an elementary school and senior assisted living facility while on the road this spring competing at Purdue and Wisconsin.
