Golden Bears & Pandas student-athletes are dedicated to helping give back to the community. They're involved in many programs and initiatives currently such as: collecting food in neighborhoods for the Campus Food Bank, partaking in the annual Movember event, the UAB 5KM Fundraiser raising money for the YESS foundation, the Motionball Marathon of Sport, Christmas Family Hamper Sponsorships, Brain Waves education sessions promoting the importance of brain health, and Read-In Weeks at various schools throughout Edmonton.
For more information on the activities of the University Athletics Board or to get involved, please e-mail: uaboard@ualberta.ca.
Golden Bears & Pandas student-athletes are involved in the conversation to discuss the impact of mental illness and how to fight the stigma that keeps too many from seeking help. Every year leading up to Bell Let's Talk Day, our teams host a featured Bell Let's Talk Night to promote the discussion of mental health on campuses and within the communities across Canada. Since Bell Let's Talk started in September 2010, Bell's donation to mental health programs stands at $108,415,135. Golden Bears & Pandas student-athletes are proud to join in fighting the stigma of mental health and helping raise awareness.
Among the organizations that Golden Bears and Pandas student-athletes work with are Kidsport, an organization that gives all children an opportunity to participate in organized sport. Kidsport has raised over $40+ million dollars to help fund grants for kids in communities across Canada. 188,000 kids have received assistance so that they can participate in a season of sport.
Student-athletes volunteer at the Stollery Children's Hospital, visiting and organizing activities with children staying at the hospital. The Stollery Children's Hospital is the only specialized healthcare facility for infants, children and youth in central and northern Alberta. The Stollery Children's Hospital Foundation raises money in support of the pursuit of excellence in children's health care, thanks the donors who supports them, and communicates to donors the impact of their donation on the lives of children their families.
Student-Athletes have helped support the Campus Food Bank by collecting food items from surrounding neighborhoods. Most recently taking part in the Food Bank Halloween Food Drive. The Campus Food Bank provides food hamper and other food programs for University of Alberta students, staff and alumni.
Student-athletes participated in the Motionball Marathon of Sport, the organization raise awareness and funds for the Special Olympics. Motionball has donated over $13,000,000 since its inception in 2002 including $2.1 million to the Special Olympics annually.
Student-athletes volunteer yearly to partake in Edmonton's Read-In Week. This year athletes took part in a virtual read in week by video calling into a class to read their favourite book. Athletes read for about 25 minutes and answered question about themselves and what it's like to be a student-athlete at the University of Alberta.
