The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
Community Enrichment Programs
Horns for Hope is the umbrella moniker for all community enrichment activities supported by UT Athletics. Among these activities are University initiatives such as Orange Santa and Longhorn Halloween; hospital visits by student-athletes; and the use of athletics events in order to collect canned foods and school supplies, demonstrate appreciation for service men and women, and raise breast cancer awareness. The breast cancer initiatives are highlighted by Volley for the Cure (Volleyball), Kick for a Cure (Soccer), Shoot for a Cure (Women’s Basketball) and Pink at the Plate (Softball). Fans are a part of Horns for Hope when they choose to participate in these special events and support our student-athletes.
• How Student-Athletes Participate: Community Service Headlines
BEVO'S BUDDIES
Bevo's Buddies is a complimentary ticket program designed exclusively for Texas-designated Title I elementary and middle schools and 501(c)(3) non-profit organizations that work with physically or intellectually challenged individuals or underprivileged youth. The program currently provides ticket vouchers for over 35 Title I schools and non-profit organizations. For more information about Bevo's Buddies, call 512-471-5865 or email bevosbuddies@athletics.utexas.edu.
COLLECTING CANS
Texas Athletics hosts canned food drives benefitting the Austin community at various athletic events each year. By offering free or discounted tickets, apparel or premium items to fans, the department has been able to collect in excess of 12,000 lbs. of food over the past three years. The current record is the more than 1,900 lbs. collected at Texas Baseball vs. Texas Tech game on March 28, 2009. Check TexasSports.com for upcoming canned food drive events. For more information, contact Jessica Dorsey at Jessica.Dorsey@athletics.utexas.edu.
CANCER AWARENESS
The University of Texas has long been recognized as a leader in health promotion. Texas Athletics is committed to raising public awareness regarding cancer through its high profile sports programs. Examples of home events promoting cancer awareness include "Volley for a Cure" at Texas Volleyball, "Kick for a Cure" at Texas Soccer, the "Shoot for a Cure" at Texas Women's Basketball, and "Pink at the Plate" at Texas Softball. Working with the Central Texas and campus communities, we look to provide a unique experience that unites all Longhorns together in support of a cause. For more information about these events, contact Jessica Dorsey at Jessica.Dorsey@athletics.utexas.edu.
LONGHORN HALLOWEEN
Longhorn Halloween is a fun and safe Halloween program put on by The University of Texas for the children of UT staff, faculty and students at the Frank Erwin Center. Admission is free and the festival features activities such as games, carnival events, a haunted house, face painting, fortune telling, chemistry circus, fire safety programs and more. Texas Athletics partners with Longhorn Halloween each fall to provide candy and prizes to attendees. The UT Athletics' booth is staffed by a variety of student-athletes from different sports who play games with the children, pass out candy and take photos. The student-athlete's role in Longhorn Halloween is just one of many ways they give back to the UT community.
MARATHON KIDS
The University of Texas Athletics Department plays host to the Marathon Kids Kick-Off Celebration at Mike A. Myers Stadium each year. The Kick-Off Celebration is the first day of the free nationally-recognized fitness and nutrition program for Central Texas youths. Over 200 student athletes volunteer for this event each year to encourage the kids to stay active and eat healthy.
The free Marathon Kids six-month program is presented in the Austin area to public and private school districts and home-schooled children by Whole Foods Market. The students, kindergarten through fifth grade, participate in a five-month, incremental 26.2 mile run, which is the equivalent of a marathon. In addition to learning the benefits of physical fitness, the Marathon Kids program is designed to get parents and guardians involved with their children, encouraging them to achieve the Marathon Kids' goals.
Marathon Kids began in Austin as a grassroots initiative, and the program is now also in Los Angeles, Baltimore, Chicago, Dallas, Houston and Texas' Rio Grande Valley. There are over 290,000 K-5th graders participating in the nationally-recognized free program. There are 294 towns and cities on the Marathon Kids' waiting list, as well as 14 foreign countries.
NEIGHBORHOOD LONGHORNS PROGRAM
The Neighborhood Longhorns Program (NLP) is an educational incentive program operated by The University of Texas in partnership with the Austin Independent School District. The NLP uses support mechanisms that encourage and value elementary and middle school students' personal development and inspire their desire to pursue higher learning through exposure to the college experience. Texas Athletics is committed to enriching the Neighborhood Longhorns Program in numerous ways and through a variety of programs, some of which are listed below. For more information, visit the Neighborhood Longhorns Program.
Annual Neighborhood Longhorns Program Tribute Dinner and Celebrity Golf Classic
Each year, The University of Texas Athletics Department coaches and staff team up with the Neighborhood Longhorns Program to host the tribute dinner and golf tournament. The dinner features a silent auction while the golf tournament features 40 celebrity players, including UT head coaches. All proceeds benefit the Neighborhood Longhorns Program and, in turn, the more than 5,500 area youth in the program.
Visit the Annual Tribute Dinner and Celebrity Golf Classic website or contact the Neighborhood Longhorns Program at 512-232-4650 for more information.
Bevo's Grand Slam Reading Program
Bevo's Grand Slam Reading Program encourages children to read books and document their progress in more than 34 schools under the Neighborhood Longhorns umbrella. Once a student's bookmark is filled with 10 book titles, it is authorized by the teacher and the student is presented with a voucher for free admission to select Texas Baseball home games.
"We are so excited to have Bevo's Grand Slam Reading Program for our Neighborhood Longhorns Program participants," said Celina Ruiz-Snowden, program director of the Neighborhood Longhorns Program. "This reading program has evolved from 500 NLP participants in 1997 to over 5,500 current NLP students. We appreciate the Texas Baseball team for their continued effort to promote reading and the Neighborhood Longhorns Program."
For more information about Bevo's Grand Slam Reading Program, contact Jessica Dorsey at Jessica.Dorsey@athletics.utexas.edu.
UFCU Neighborhood Longhorns STEM Challenge Kick-Off
Since 2008, Texas Soccer has teamed up with Neighborhood Longhorns to combine the sport of soccer with the Neighborhood Longhorns STEM Challenge program. The Kick-Off is the official opening ceremony for involvement in the STEM Challenge program. The Kick-Off engages students to complete soccer skill stations and solve math problems related to the Texas Soccer team. Funded through corporate contributions from University Federal Credit Union, the STEM Challenge program assists students with mathematics skills and performance. The services of this program are offered to all participating Neighborhood Longhorns Program schools.
For more information about the UFCU Neighborhood Longhorns STEM Challenge Kick-Off, contact Jessica Dorsey at Jessica.Dorsey@athletics.utexas.edu. For more information on the Math Challenge program, contact the Neighborhood Longhorns Program at 512-232-4650.
READ to LEAD and SMART Choices Program
Texas Women’s Basketball created a program creative writing skills by reading stories and write a summary using key comprehension skills. Students who complete this task gain access to women’s basketball games throughout the season. The Neighborhood Longhorns Program uses the Forty Acres Field Trip as the official kick-off for this program and kids get the opportunity to put their thoughts on paper and create good, solid writing skills.
Texas Men’s Basketball emphasizes building good habits through their SMART Choices program. This program emphasizes the importance of making healthy choices and maintaining a balanced lifestyle, including getting a good night’s rest.
Whataburger "Bring Home the W"
The University of Texas has teamed up with Whataburger to "Bring Home the W" in support of Austin students participating in the Neighborhood Longhorns Program. As part of the program, Whataburger donates to the NLP scholarship fund each time the Texas Longhorns win a football or men's or women's basketball game. Since 1991, the Neighborhood Longhorns have awarded student participants with approximately $500,000 in scholarships. Texas Athletics recognizes Whataburger and Neighborhood Longhorn participants during various athletic events throughout the year. The partnership allows Texas Athletics to proudly teach that winning in the classroom is just as important as winning on the field or court.
"We know how important Texas Athletics are to this community, and when they win, everybody wins with the NLP-Whataburger partnership," said Patricia Russey, director of operations for Whataburger Restaurants, LP.
For more information about Whataburger's "Bring Home the W" program, contact Eryn McMahan with Learfield IMG College at eryn.mcmahan@lsp.com.
ORANGE SANTA
Texas Athletics gives back each year to the Orange Santa program, sponsored by the Office of the President, which began in 1994. The goal of the program is to foster a more caring campus environment by providing help for members of community who have special needs during the holiday season.
The Orange Santa program opens a holiday store in Bellmont Hall that provides an opportunity for eligible UT faculty and staff to "shop" for gifts and toys for children in their immediate family. The store is stocked with items contributed through campus-wide donation drives as well as items collected at special events.
Playing its part in the program, each year Texas Athletics offers vouchers for free admission to fans who donate new, unwrapped toys at select volleyball and Men's and Women's Basketball games. Student-athletes are enlisted to collect the toys and distribute vouchers at the games. In addition, various coaches donate items such as basketballs, T-shirts and other sports equipment.
Student-athletes get involved each year by participating in a donation drive coordinated by the Student-Athlete Advisory Council (SAAC). The teams collect money from student-athletes to go towards gift purchases and members of the teams go shopping for the gifts. The donation drive benefits the Orange Santa program, but it also is a great team building activity for the student-athletes and often turns into a competition between teams to raise the most money.
"The Orange Santa program really puts it all into perspective. You find yourself getting so wrapped up in your world, in your sport and your school work, and you need things to bring you back to reality and to the 'big picture," said former volleyball player Michelle Moriarty, "As a university, UT does so much for the student-athletes. It's great to give back in some way whenever we can."
Check TexasSports.com for upcoming Orange Santa collection dates at Texas Volleyball and Men's and Women's Basketball games. For more information, contact Jessica Dorsey at Jessica.Dorsey@athletics.utexas.edu.