Community Service
"Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it's the only thing that ever has."
-Margaret Mead
Community Service Program Objectives:
- To engage student-athletes in experiences involving the university, local, state, national and global communities through service.
- To expose Pitt student-athletes to diverse groups and cultures, while increasing awareness about vulnerable populations.
- To be a resource for student-athlete development.
During the 2006 - 07 academic year, Pitt student-athletes participated in over 3,000 hours in community service. Click here for descriptions.
Continuous Programs:
Children's Hospital Visits
Children's Hospital Honorary Captain's Programs:
- Football
- Men's Basketball
- Women's Basketball
Paw Prints
Pitt Athletes Working with Students (PAWS)
Children's Hospital Honorary Captain Program
Working with Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh UPMC, student-athletes hosted a patient at each home football game. The patients were considered honorary captains and participated in the coin toss with the Pitt football team captains before the games. This was the program's seventh year with football and its second year involving men's basketball. At three men's basketball games, patients were invited to listen to the pre-game discussion with the referees, Pitt team captains, and the opposing team captains.
Children's Hospital Visits
Student-athletes' visited children at Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh UPMC. Student-athletes visited patients twice a month. They participated in arts and crafts, playing video games and board games. Other visits included the annual family dinner and movie premiers.
Panther PAWS (Pitt Athletes Working with Students)
In the third year of collaboration with the Community Leisure Learn program and the Department of Athletics, the PAWS program featured 12 of our varsity sports and the dance team. Each week, a different team conducted a weekly instructional sports clinic with an educational topic. The clinic provided over 70 youth from the Hill District community the opportunity to be exposed to different sports and educational presentations. The PAWS program took place for over ten weeks in the spring semester.
Paw Prints Presentation
Paw Prints is a newsletter that features Pitt student-athletes and coaches and is geared toward educating middle school students. The focus areas are promoting good decision making and living healthy lifestyles. Student-athletes have used this material when speaking to groups of middle school students and during hospital visits.
If you are a Pitt student-athlete and interested in participating in community service opportunities, please contact Charles Small the Assistant Direrctor of Life Skills at csmall@athletics.pitt.edu
