Did you know student-athletes at Mary Baldwin University collectively put in hundreds of hours participating in dozens of civic engagement and community enrichment projects every year?
They do things like plant trees with the Legacy Tree Project, coach recreation sports teams, read to students at local elementary schools, help with community gardens, volunteer with Habitat for Humanity, and much more.
MBU Athletics Director Tom Byrnes calls the activities a vital part of the university’s mission.
“These are teaching moments that help our student-athletes grow into the kind of amazing citizens and leaders that will go out and make a positive impact in any community they choose to become a part of,” Byrnes said.
Teams have been particularly busy this fall. Below, we highlight some of their great work.
Varsity Basketball Teams Participate in Cold Weather Clothing Drive
Players recently banded together to encourage friends, family, fans, alumni, and local community members to donate winter clothing to help those in need.
They collected more than 50 blankets, coats, stocking hats, gloves, and scarves at a November doubleheader.
The items were donated to the New Directions Center in Staunton, a nonprofit organization that provides support for people — mostly women and children — affected by domestic violence, sexual assault, human trafficking, and stalking.
“As coaches, we want to find ways to empower our student-athletes,” said head women’s basketball coach, Meghan Austin. “By partnering with New Directions and helping people suffering from these terrible issues, we’re showing them what empowerment looks like within our own community.”
Teams Compete in USA South ‘Cans Across the Conference’ Community Service Initiative
Players, coaches, and advisors from fall and winter sports teams joined conference counterparts from seven other colleges and universities to collect canned goods and non-perishable items for nonprofit food banks throughout the region.
Participants at Mary Baldwin gathered around 1,700 items during the month of November. They were donated to the Blue Ridge Area Food Bank in Verona.
As a whole, the event netted a record-breaking total of about 14,300 food items — up 3,000 from last year alone.
The friendly competition was founded in 2004, and has since raised about 620,000 items for more than 1,000 charitable hunger organizations throughout the region.
Student-Athletes Join Annual Downtown Staunton Christmas Parade
More than 100 student-athletes helped to build and march with MBU’s athletics float in the annual Staunton Holiday Parade on Nov. 28.
The university’s student-athlete advisory committee organized participation — including construction of a themed float based on the popular children’s Christmas book, The Polar Express.
Players, coaches, and staff representing Mary Baldwin’s 15 varsity teams paraded through downtown in a procession of nearly 120 entrants, marching in their pajamas alongside school mascot, Baldwin the Flying Squirrel.
They could be seen waving, smiling, and handing out candy and MBU swag to kids and parade-goers alike.
“These are teaching moments that help our student-athletes grow into the kind of amazing citizens and leaders that will go out and make a positive impact in any community they choose to become a part of.”
Mary Baldwin University Athletics Director Tom Byrnes