TEMPE, Ariz. – College tennis programs across the country have immersed themselves in their respective communities by participating in the ITA Community Service Challenge, a two-month initiative built on service and community involvement.
Two weeks into the challenge, many teams have already submitted community service projects to help strengthen their communities by volunteering at food kitchens, working with Special Olympics Tennis Buddies, and planting flowers around university buildings.
ITA Community Service Challenge homepage
Although many hours have already been logged, the service varies from program to program in unique and charitable ways. The Western Illinois Women’s program served as race monitors during an on-campus 5K race honoring fallen soldiers, while also planting flowers around the alumni house ahead of the school’s Homecoming Week.
Both the Northwest St. Paul Men and Women pulled weeds, trimmed hedges and re-grassed a lawn for a community member who needed to tidy up the garden. Additionally, they later bagged food and sorted clothing at a nearby homeless shelter.
The men and women of Luther College visited the Humane Society of Northeast Iowa (HSNEI) to spend time with the shelter’s dogs and cats while learning more about the care HSNEI provides for animals in the Northeast Iowa region.
The Creighton Women ran alongside Special Olympic Tennis players to support Women’s Heart Health, while the University of Louisiana at Lafeyette Women volunteered at a local CrossFit gym to clean ceilings, baseboards and other exercise equipment.
Teams will continue to have the opportunity to give back to their communities for the rest of this month and into November. If you or someone you know is interested in creating a community event at a school near you, we strongly encourage you to contact that program to schedule the event.
About the ITA Community Service Challenge
The Intercollegiate Tennis Association announced the return of the ITA Community Service Challenge, a two-month initiative for programs to give back to their communities that builds on the success and foundation of the previously held ITA Community Service Month.
Each ITA member program, which takes place during the months of October and November, is eligible to participate in the ITA Community Service Challenge. With prizes for the top finishers, the programs will compete against each other and earn points based on total hours of community service and the number of student-athletes participating in each activity.
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