Hawkeye student athletes are easy to spot in Iowa City. On an average day, they can easily be found throwing passes, shaving off a few seconds of race time, or hurrying to class between practices. However, there is one day a year where you might notice their absence on campus: the Hawkeye Day of Caring.

The Hawkeye Day of Caring is an annual community service event facilitated by the Iowa Student Athlete Advisory Committee and United Way of Johnson and Washington Counties. For almost 20 years, student athletes from every sport have spent one day away from both study sessions and practice every year, instead volunteering their time to various local organizations and nonprofits.

With an average of 200 athletes participating each year, local organizations reap tremendous benefits from just a few hours of help. Hawkeye Day of Caring projects range from basic spring cleaning to aiding in floodplain erosion prevention efforts.  A large group of student athletes can knock out a landscaping project in a few hours; whereas, the project would take a small staff days to complete. This allows a non-profit a more appropriate use of staff time and budget allocation. 

Student athletes look forward to the annual Hawkeye Day of Caring. Many athletes cite the enjoyment they get from supporting the community that constantly rallies around the Hawkeyes. Most athletes love participating so much they volunteer year after year. 

The next time you’re cheering on the Hawkeyes from the stands, be sure to think of the good your favorite players do off the field too. 

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