April 27, 2009
Auburn, Ala. - Nearly 200 Auburn Athletic Department coaches, administrators and support staff fanned out to 18 schools and agencies across Auburn and Opelika on Monday for a day of community service.
Athletic Director Jay Jacobs said the "Tigers Give Back" event was organized after Auburn student-athletes decided to make community service a priority.
"Our student-athletes challenged us to support them and their community service efforts," Jacobs said. "We're just following their lead and learning from them about what it means to come out and support your neighbors."
Jacobs said it was also an opportunity to give back to the community for all it does to support Auburn sports.
"Our fans and the community have supported us in so many ways," Jacobs said. "There is no we can repay them for all that they have done but to be able to give back just a little bit is great. It's just the Auburn spirit."
Jacobs and about 10 other athletic department staff members spent the morning working on the Habitat for Humanity house under construction in Auburn.
Auburn baseball Head Coach John Pawlowski and his assistant coaches were busy working at the Opelika unit of the Boys & Girls Club of Lee County, where they cleaned out an attic and painted the teen center--just hours after they made the long trip back from a three-game series in Baton Rouge, La.
"It's great to be able to reach out to the community and to give back," Pawlowski said. "My staff got in late last night after a long weekend, but it has been great to be out here helping at the Boys & Girls Club this morning. It's a great charity because there are a lot of children who need some place safe to go after school and to learn life skills, so we were thrilled to be here today."
The day was extra special for Eric O'Brien, a single father of three who will move into the Habitat for Humanity home in Auburn when construction is completed. O'Brien was excited to see that Jacobs was among the volunteers with shovel in hand at the home site.
"It's really special for me to see these people with so much more they could be doing today take the time to come out here and help with the house," O'Brien said. "There is no way I could afford this house if not for Habitat, and Habitat can't do it without the help of volunteers. We had a lot of fun and got a lot done."
Across town at Dean Road Elementary School, Auburn Head Track Coach Ralph Spry and his staff read to first graders and helped lead PE classes--much to the delight of the children, who coincidentally were preparing for a charity run on tap at the school Friday.
""I'm having a ball with these children this morning," Spry said. "When you come representing Auburn as coaches, their eyes just light up. It's great to see."
Latisha Durroh, community relations director for Auburn Athletics, said the staff hopes to make "Tigers Give Back" an annual event.