Number of Participants: 32
Hours Donated: 17
Value of Time Served: $18,926
Event Type: Civic & Community
Activity: Football
School: Zumbrota-Mazeppa High School
Date: November 19, 2025
Location:
Zumbrota Mazeppa High School
Mill St, Zumbrota
MN
About:
At Zumbrota-Mazeppa High School in Zumbrota, Minnesota, community service isn’t just an add-on to the football season — it’s a defining pillar of the Cougar Football program. Under the leadership of Head Coach Darin Raasch, the team has built a proud and long-standing tradition of giving back, serving as role models for younger athletes and community members alike.
This season alone, Cougar Football athletes contributed an impressive 533 hours of community service. Every hour was tracked, celebrated, and used to reinforce one of the program’s core values: paying it forward.
Memorial Day Support with the Zumbrota Lions
The season’s service began with an impactful tradition — assisting the Zumbrota Lions in setting up flags throughout the city park in honor of Memorial Day. Players worked together to prepare a meaningful display that pays tribute to local veterans and their families.
Annual Postseason Service Day
Every year, the day after the final regular season game, the team dedicates an entire day to serving the community. This year, athletes spent the day raking pine straw and leaves in the city park, helping maintain a space enjoyed by residents year-round. The project has become a hallmark of the program’s commitment to finishing the season with purpose.
Varsity Athletes Lead the Way in Youth Football
One of the most impactful initiatives comes each September, when 20 varsity players volunteer every Saturday morning from 8:30 a.m. to noon to coach and officiate the community’s 3rd–6th grade youth football leagues.
These players design practices, teach skills, organize plays, and — most importantly — model strong character and sportsmanship. Their leadership helps shape the next generation of Cougars and reinforces the culture of respect, teamwork, and integrity that the program values deeply.
Coach Raasch shared his pride in how his athletes show up for their community:
“We work hard to provide our boys opportunities to ‘pay it forward,’ and we are very proud of them. Thank you for this program.”
— Darin Raasch, Head Coach, Zumbrota-Mazeppa Cougar Football
Through consistent leadership, meaningful traditions, and a genuine commitment to service, the Zumbrota-Mazeppa Cougar Football program continues to make a lasting impact — on the field, in the community, and in the lives of the athletes who represent Cougar Nation with pride.
