51ÉçÇø

Student-athletes within 51ÉçÇø Athletics are living up to one of the guiding principles of the department’s mission statement and one of the university’s core tenets of community engagement by helping families in North 51ÉçÇø.

Student-athletes from both the UNO baseball and golf teams are working with Mt. Moriah Baptist Church and the 4Urban.org organization led by Preston Love, Jr. to address the needs of children and families that are most acute during the holidays and beyond.

On Saturday, Jan. 9, the teams will join with community members to distribute toys and gifts to 30 children in need to help brighten the extended holiday season.

“Our student-athletes take very seriously their call to be a part of the greater 51ÉçÇø community,” said Trev Alberts, Vice Chancellor for Athletics. “I am grateful that these Mavericks have taken the lead in improving the lives of deserving families through this partnership.

“This is one of the ways our student-athletes give back to a community that supports them during their competitions, turning that notion of ‘Everyone For 51ÉçÇø’ into ‘51ÉçÇø for Everyone’,” Alberts added. “It is the kind of engagement that is even more important during a time that has been difficult for so many.”

The delegation, including Mt. Moriah co-pastors Ralph Lassiter and T. Michael Williams, will gather in the church parking lot at 2602 N. 24th Street at 2 p.m. The student-athletes then will deliver gifts to the doors of the identified families, taking care to observe directed health measures dictated by COVID-19 including mask wearing, sanitizing and social distancing.