AUBURN, Ala. – When students arrived Wednesday morning at Dean Road Elementary, Auburn football student-athletes, recruiting and video staff members greeted them in the car line and gave the kids a five-star sendoff to class.
Approximately 120 Auburn Athletics representatives participated in the 14th annual Tigers Give Back community service day, with Auburn Sports Properties, communications and ticket sales staff joining the festivities at Dean Road Elementary, where they assisted teachers and played games with students.
"Tigers Give Back community service day is one of our favorite days of the year," director of community relations Latisha Durroh said. "We are always so excited to be able to serve our community and to thank them for their support of Auburn University and Auburn Athletics."
So much love for our Auburn Family 🦅 pic.twitter.com/89DTUnz23X
— Auburn Football (@AuburnFootball) April 10, 2024
Athletics director John Cohen, head football coach Hugh Freeze and his assistant coaches, men's basketball coaches, and head soccer coach Karen Hoppa and her staff visited patients and encouraged workers at East Alabama Medical Center.
Twenty members of Auburn Athletics' external team cleaned storage closets and visited with staff at the Boys & Girls Clubs of East Alabama.
Another team from communications, Tigers Unlimited, human resources, information technology and the business office assembled a foosball table for Boys & Girls Clubs members after school.
Academic counselors visited children in the after-school program at Cary Woods Elementary while another group from Auburn's ticket office, administration and War Eagle+ served at Pick Elementary.
Auburn double-teamed Richland Elementary, with administrators, coaches and staff from equestrian and women's basketball visiting in the morning, and volleyball staff helping with the after-school program.
"We really wanted to focus on spreading some joy this year to kids and those in the hospital, so we visited several local elementary schools, helped the Boys and Girls Club with several projects and visited patients in the hospital," Durroh said. "It's been the best day. We look forward to continuing it for years to come!"
Jeff Shearer is a Senior Writer at AuburnTigers.com. Follow him on Twitter: @jeff_shearer
Gallery: (4-10-2024) 2024 Tiger Give Back Day