TOWSON, Md. – Towson University finished second nationally and led the Colonial Athletic Association (CAA) in the 2018 NCAA Team Works Helper Helper Community Service Competition that ran from January through the beginning of April.
 
Towson student-athletes participated in 44 events during the NCAA Teamworks Competitions logging 6,427 hours of community service.
 
During the 2017-18 academic year to date, Towson's student-athletes have successfully completed over 10,000 hours of community service within the Greater Baltimore region for the sixth consecutive year.
 
"I am very proud of our student-athletes, coaches, staff and administration for the effort and commitment to finish second in the NCAA Teamworks Competition this year," assistant athletic director for the Total Tiger Program Antwaine Smith said. "This was a great accomplishment to move up from sixth last year. The success and commitment to community service within Towson Athletics is more than merely a point of pride. It is becoming our legacy."
 
Being a leader on campus and demonstrating community engagement is a theme within Towson's strategic plan and a crucial component to being a well-rounded student-athlete.
 
Towson student-athletes seize the opportunity to enthusiastically engage with the community that supports them on and off the field. They recognize the importance of making a difference in someone else's life through their commitment and dedication -- beyond the classroom and competition.
 
All of Towson's 19 athletic programs made a meaningful contribution this year in making an impact in the community.
 
The Tigers spent time visiting elementary schools, cleaning up in the community, conducting skills clinics with various youth groups and much more. Using the Helper Helper app to log hours, Towson student-athletes were able to measure the impact they had in the community.
 
In addition, the Towson University men's and women's basketball teams were among the 64 teams included in the Helper Helper Community Service Madness Tournament.
 
In late January, the Towson University softball team volunteered at Second Chance, a non-profit organization, with a mission to retrain and create employment for displaced and unemployed workers.
 
The experience left an impression on the Tigers. By the time the Tigers returned to campus, they had a stronger sense of gratitude, a greater purpose and understood what it means that having a second chance makes you want to work even harder.
 
"Getting the opportunity to volunteer at Second Chance, and contribute service to the community in general, is so meaningful because it gives you an opportunity to give back not only to people but to the environment," senior softball student-athlete Olivia Baltazar said. "I think everyone really enjoyed our time there. Being with all of my teammates was such a fun experience. Volunteering at Second Chance is such a unique experience, and I was so happy with how we contributed and really helped out in so many different ways."  
 
Even though it fell outside of the competition window, the men's lacrosse team worked with The Cool Kids, an organization devoted to improving the quality of life for pediatric oncology patients and their families by focusing on the academic, social and emotional needs brought on by a cancer diagnosis.
 
In Division I, Towson finished behind Miami (Fla.) and ahead of Louisville, Georgia Southern, and George Washington. The Tigers were the only CAA member institution listed in the top 10.
 
NCAA Team Works, which coordinates community service efforts at NCAA championships, and Helper Helper, a volunteer management and tracking platform, launched the community service competition to recognize student-athletes who give back to their communities. The competition ran from January through March with the winning schools' victories being decided based on the number of service hours completed and participation of student-athletes.
 
This was the fourth annual NCAA Team Works Helper Helper Community Service Competition award, with all Divisions I, II and III participating schools combining for 94,683 hours of community service in 3,300 opportunities. NCAA Team Works is proud to honor student-athletes who are making a difference in their communities, contributing to their overall student-athlete experience, well-being and success while in college and after graduation.