New River Valley Times

University of Virginia student-athletes have been giving back to the Charlottesville community by volunteering their time, mentoring local youth and engaging in other acts of civic engagement, the UVA Athletics' director of community engagement said.

Approximately 450 athletes volunteer their time and services to the local community, Ellen Cook, the community engagement director, told the New River Valley Times. 

The local organizations benefiting from the athletes' community service include the following: Charlottesville city and Albemarle County schools, Habitat for Humanity, UVA Children's Hospital, local food banks such as Loaves and Fishes and the Blue Ridge Area Food Bank, City of Promise, Madison House, Blue Ridge Juvenile Detention Center, Morningside Assisted Living and Jefferson Area Board of Aging retirement homes, Charlottesville Parks and Recreation and Athletes for Hope.

Most of the student-athletes focus their volunteerism on helping local youths through school-based and other programs.

"Many of our student-athletes are interested in working with youth," Cook said. "They had mentors growing up, and they want to give back to the younger generation. One way they do this is through Athletes Committed to Education. Student-athletes are partnered with a teacher and classroom and visit once a week. They help students with classwork, play at recess and assist the teachers. Our student-athletes also love visiting children at the UVA Hospital on a regular basis."

The COVID-19 pandemic has changed how student-athlete volunteers can assist the less fortunate in the communities where they live, with many pupils seeking opportunities to donate their time virtually.

"COVID has significantly impacted how we engage with our community, but our student-athletes certainly haven't stopped," Cook said. "We have been creative in finding virtual opportunities, and our students have taken to social media to engage with the community. Student-athletes have been able to virtually read children's books to elementary school classrooms, send electronic letters to senior residents, record video messages for kids and seniors, and even tutor and mentor youth from City of Promise, a local non-profit."

One community-focused project that the university is proud of involves tutoring younger children, Cook said.

"A new project that our student-athletes have been particularly excited about is a virtual mentor and tutor program where we've partnered with City of Promise," she said. "We have student-athletes who act as mentors and/or tutors to elementary- and middle school-aged children."

Cook added that other activities involving student-athletes have helped classmates become more caring and responsible members of the local community.

"This past spring, the football team's 'Thursday's Heroes' program won the (Atlantic Coast Conference's) Gamechangers award," she said. "This program, which was brought to the University by Head Coach Bronco Mendenhall, invites community members who are going through difficult life challenges to a UVA football practice. ... The big finale is when players present gifts that are unique to each Hero, including celebrity video messages."