Community service has always been a pillar of what the student-athlete experience entails here at Mizzou. Our athletic department has always taken pride on creating opportunities for student-athletes to go out and give back to the Columbia community. Over the years, we have developed strong relationships with several different charities that we consistently support throughout the year. Thus far, students have begun to revisit with local elementary schools and reading to their students through a program called 2nd and 7; or they have Skyped in through a program called Starlight Reading. Students have also visited the MU Women's and Children's to spend time interacting with those who are battling a sickness. They have also continued on with the tradition of Caleb's Pitch, which is an event where kids squirt syringes full of paint onto empty canvas' to create their own masterpiece of art.
Last year, students donated 3,308 hours of their time to serving, and they have thus far served over 1,200.
A brand new service event that has generated some excitement has been "Playing for Hope". On the Friday leading into a home football game, a player personally visits a child who is staying at a hospital and battling an illness. The child is shown a video of support created by the player, prior to them walking into the room and surprising them. The player, lets them know that they are dedicating the next game to them and the child in return writes them a note or creates a video of support for the player.