Buffs Reach Out to Local Youth

BOULDER? The University of Colorado announced two events, organized through the athletic department, which will engage student-athletes with area youth.

The “Buffalo Hugs Project” will take a group of about 20 student-athletes from various sports to visit patients at Children’s Hospital in Denver. Over the course of two hours, the Buffs will have to opportunity to hand out stuffed toy Buffaloes, talk and play with the children. The event is set for this Friday, November 18, with another one planned for the spring semester.

CU is already engaged with a current event called “Read with the Buffs!” The program, sponsored in conjunction with IBM, is designed to promote and celebrate the importance of reading to children in the Boulder and Denver metro area. The program has been underway since Nov. 7, and is scheduled to run through Feb. 3, 2006.

Student-athletes will visit elementary schools and read to students in grades three through five. They read the book Teammates by Peter Golenbock, and then students answer comprehension questions based on the reading. Teammates tells the story of the events and cultural climate surrounding Jackie Robinson breaking the racial barrier in Major League Baseball and Pee Wee Reese’s public declaration of his support for Jackie in his first major league game.

Student-athletes also discuss with children the importance of reading and education, what it takes to get to college, what it is like being a student-athlete, as well as many other related topics. Students also receive “Read with the Buffs” autographed cards, pencils and bookmarks during the visits.

Colorado University Athletics