Champions of Character Year in Review - St. Francis
JOLIET, Ill. – In the spirit of the NAIA's Champions of Character initiative, many teams and groups within the USF athletic department volunteered with various organizations around the Chicagoland area during the 2018-19 academic year.
Guided by USF's Franciscan values – respect, service, integrity and compassion – and the Champions of Character core values – integrity, respect, responsibility, sportsmanship and servant leadership –, the Saints took part in many service projects and volunteer work opportunities throughout Joliet and the surrounding communities.
Here are some of the ways that USF student-athletes, coaches and administrators served. Click on the organization for further information.
- Baseball (Miracle League of Joliet, Daybreak Shelter)
- Men's basketball (Northern Illinois Food Bank)
- Women's basketball (Daybreak shelter, Salvation Army, Northern Illinois Food Bank)
- Men's and women's bowling (Joliet Bowling Association youth camp)
- Competitive Cheer (Mentoring at Joliet Central HS)
- Competitive dance (Wreaths Across America - Abraham Lincoln National Cemetery)
- Department staff (Daybreak Shelter)
- Football (Cleaning up parks for the Joliet Park District)
- Women's golf (Daybreak Shelter)
- Men's cross country/track & field (Feed My Starving Children)
- Women's cross country/track & field (Feed My Starving Children)
- Men's Soccer (Feed My Starving Children)
- Women's soccer (Joliet Township Animal Control)
- Student-Athlete Advisory Council (Hands of Hope Food Pantry)
- *Softball (Our Lady of Angels Retirement Home, Will County Humane Society, Breast cancer game in support of the Dr. Susan Love Research Foundation)
- Sports medicine (Hands of Hope Food Pantry)
- Men's Tennis (Daybreak Shelter)
- Volleyball (Relay for Life, Dig Pink Game for Side-Out Foundation)
* USF softball was named co-winner of the Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference Champions of Character Team Award