Western Kentucky University Athletics once again participated in the United Way Day of Caring on July 27, lending about 120 volunteers to four projects in the area.
Hilltopper volunteers pitched in on projects at Warren East High School, Briarwood Elementary and Bowling Green Christian Academy. Their efforts included helping lay mulch and clean up playgrounds, painting interior walls and moving equipment.
Day of Caring, which is a program designed to partner with local non-profit organizations to complete numerous projects across the region, has been taking place since 2009.
This is the sixth straight year WKU has participated in Day of Caring as part of Hilltoppers With Heart, presented by Passport Health Plan.
This year, in honor of its 60th anniversary, United Way of Southern Kentucky is building upon its original concept with the introduction of 60 Days of Caring – a period starting July 18 and ending on Sept. 15 with a 60th anniversary community celebration.
During these 60 days, United Way is encouraging community members to do something to show that they care about our community. WKU took part in the first phrase of community impact, which was education.
Hilltoppers With Heart, sponsored by Passport Health Plan, was founded in 2011 and is designed to give WKU student-athletes, coaches and staff the unique opportunity to make an impact in the community by volunteering time and talent with numerous organizations including United Way, Boys and Girls Clubs, local schools and many more.
WKU Athletics set a new benchmark for the program in 2015-16 with more than 3,000 hours of service to the community. Since its inception, the community outreach initiative has contributed more than 9,000 hours of community service.
Passport Health Plan is a provider-sponsored, non-profit, community-based Medicaid health plan that has been contracted with Kentucky’s Cabinet for Health and Family Services to administer Medicaid benefits since 1997.
Medicaid members can choose Passport to be their health care provider, and as of June 27, 2016, there are nearly 17,000 Passport members living in Region 4, which includes Warren County and the campus of Western Kentucky University.
Source: http://www.kyforward.com/wku-athletics-participates-in-four-volunteer-programs-during-united-way-day-of-caring/
From WKU Athletics
