By Katherine Bradley
Contributing Reporter
Now in its seventh year, the Athletes Care Team, led by assistant athletic director of community progress, Charles Davis, has provided a way for university athletes to make a difference in the community.
Whether the athletes are wrapping Christmas presents for needy families, talking to middle school students about the importance of a good education or assisting with the games at the Special Olympics, they are continuously participating in activities that benefit Winston-Salem children, according to Davis
"Really, if anyone calls me and thinks student athletes could help out with a project, we're ready to offer our services," Davis.
ACT falls under the "service commitment" category in a university student-athlete support program, called Challenging Athletes' Minds for Personal Success. This program is dedicated to assisting athletes with their commitments in five areas, including athletics, academics, personal life, service and career development. With ACT, though, committing to service is completely voluntary. Davis emphasizes the importance of a volunteer being someone who wants to give willingly of their time.
"Kids are very intuitive; they know whether or not someone is speaking from his heart. I want students who truly want to serve. That's why I won't allow coaches to require their athletes to participate," Davis said.
In fact, 66 percent of the athletes, which is approximately 210 to 220, participate in some way with ACT. "The athletes are very proud of the program now. Upperclassmen will bring in freshman -- they really want to help people," Davis said.
The participants in ACT fully commit when they volunteer to help. Tutoring at local elementary schools, one of ACT's programs, is a service that the athletes do every week without fail.
"If an athlete decides to tutor, he or she makes a commitment for the entire semester -- an hour a week with the same child. It is amazing to see the kids' attitudes transform. At first they have a `yeah right' attitude -- skeptical about whether or not the athlete will really be there every week. But by the third time he or she shows up, the child is so proud to tell `his athlete' that he didn't get in trouble or that he made a good grade on a test," Davis said.
This year is a special one for Davis and his volunteering athletes. Although ACT usually averages 2,500 volunteer hours per year, the 3,000 hour mark is just around the corner. "This is a really big accomplishment for us: something we're very proud of."
Davis hopes that the ACT, whose motto is "Care, share and commit," will serve as a starting block for the athletes' entire life.
"The truth of it is, the majority of our athletes won't ever make a dime playing professional sports. They will become positive parts of their communities; hopefully by that point, volunteering will be instilled in them as something they like to do," Davis said.
According to Davis, right now there is something about a college student, especially an athlete, that makes kids listen. "Personally, it really impacts me to know that we're doing something that makes a difference. When I see a big football player dressed as Santa Claus get teary-eyed after a child hugs him and says, `Thanks,' that's what it is all about," Davis said.
With over 15,000 hours volunteered to date, ACT can be assured that it is indeed making a difference.
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