Transylvania University and the Athletics program have a long standing involvement in community services. Student-athletes volunteer several hours of service to local youth, elderly and underprivileged communities. During the 2004-2005 academic year, each of the 16 intercollegiate teams, as well as the coaching staff and administration, committed to serve one or more community organizations. Transy student-athletes value the importance of giving back to the community. They show their appreciation by helping those in the Lexington and surrounding area.

Race for the Cure
In 1983, Nancy Brinker created the first Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation Race for the Cure® in Dallas, Texas with 800 participants. Today, the Komen Race for the Cure® Series is the largest series of 5K runs/fitness walks in the world.
In addition to raising funds, the Komen Race for the Cure® Series is committed to educating the public about early detection, the strongest method of surviving this life-threatening disease. The five-year survival rate is 95 percent when the disease is discovered while still confined to the breast.
The Komen Race for the Cure® Series helps raise awareness of the importance of a positive breast health program – monthly breast self-examinations for all women beginning at age 20, clinical breast exams every three years beginning at age 20 and annually at age 40, and annual mammography beginning by age 40.
The Transy softball team has been affiliated with this race for several years, sending a team of walkers to the Lexington event comprised of softball players, their Mom’s and coaches. The volleyball team began their affiliation this year, helping behind the scenes to fill gift bags and filling out race bibs.

Transylvania athletic teams participated in Lexington’s annual Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation Race for the Cure. The event, one of the largest co-ed 5K races in central Kentucky, drew more than 4,000 runners and walkers, including a number of breast cancer survivors. Among those who participated were members of the Transy softball team (137) and men’s and women’s cross country teams (002).
While event organizers had not determined how much the 2005 race raised for the foundation, it has generated about $1.5 million over the last eight years. The Race for the Cure series has grown from one race involving 800 participants in Dallas in 1983 to a series of more than 100 events with 1.5 million people participated nationwide in 2005.
About 25 percent of the money raised on Saturday will support the Komen Breast Cancer Foundation while the rest of the money will finance local breast health education and breast cancer screening and treatment projects.

Breast Cancer Softball Tournament: Softball
The Transy softball team held a tournament to raise funds and awareness for finding a cure for Breast Cancer.

College for Living-Arc of the Bluegrass: Men’s Basketball, Volleyball, Field Hockey
Cognitively delayed adults come to campus for fun and educational purposes. Volunteers from Transy and the Lexington area teach and assist with classes and a party. This program meets every Monday night from 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m., for 5 consecutive weeks each semester. This year, teams taught the sports classes, teaching the students different games including kickball, basketball and field hockey.

Crimson Christmas-Big Brothers, Big Sisters: Student Athlete Advisory Committee, (SAAC)
The Transylvania University community holds an annual holiday party for some of the children of Big Brothers/Big Sisters of the Bluegrass. This annual event began in 1992, and has grown to include over 135 volunteers annually. The student-athletes created a “present toss” where the children toss a wrapped box into a chimney and win small prizes. Fun was had by all!

Tsunami Relief Fund: Men’s Basketball
The Men’s Basketball team donated over $400 to aid the victims of the Tsunami. The giant tidal wave created by the largest earthquake in four decades ripped apart the lives of millions of people and families living along the coasts of the Indian Ocean.

Lexington Catholic Action Center: Women’s Basketball
Transylvania University’s women’s basketball team spent two days during the holiday break working in the Lexington Catholic Action Center, a facility for the homeless. The team visited the shelter on Dec. 29-30, preparing and serving meals to approximately 100 homeless individuals.

Thoroughbred Retirement Center: Men’s and Women’s Swimming
The swim team assisted at a fundraiser for the Thoroughbred Retirement Center. The Thoroughbred Retirement Foundation was founded in 1982 and has rescued over 1000 horses for rehabilitation, retirement and adoption. They currently care for approximately 700 horses. The TRF is the leading charitable Thoroughbred rescue organization in the world providing a lifetime retirement for former racehorses.

God’s Pantry: Athletic Coaching Staff and Administration
Transy’s coaches and administrators donated cans and food items to benefit God’s Pantry. The mission of God's Pantry Food Bank is to reduce hunger in Kentucky through community cooperation making the best possible use of all available resources.

Coaches vs. Cancer: Athletic Coaching Staff and Administration
Coaches vs. Cancer is a nationally recognized program designed to increase public awareness and raise money for cancer research, education, patient services, and advocacy efforts. To date, Transylvania University Athletics has raised over $3,000. Transy coaches and students were on hand in donation booths in the Beck Center and literature about Coaches vs. Cancer was available. A silent auction was conducted to raise funds as well. Items available include sports memorabilia from Transy and the University of Kentucky, nights at local hotels, dinners from area restaurants, tickets to Cincinnati Reds games and to the Singletary Center, and passes for local golf courses and driving ranges.

The First Tee: Men’s and Women’s Golf
First tee is an initiative of the World Golf Federation. The focus is to give young people of all backgrounds an opportunity to develop, through golf and character education, life-enhancing values such as honesty, integrity an sportsmanship. The Transy golf teams invited several kids from the local chapter of the YMCA to be a part of the Transy Invitational golf tournament. The teams also raised over $500 in a “birdie-a-thon” during their tournament.

Day Care Experience: Softball
The Transy Softball team visited a local day care and read stories to the children.

American Heart Association Heart Walk- Baseball, Men’s Soccer, Women’s Soccer
The American Heart Association is a national voluntary health agency whose mission is to reduce disability and death from cardiovascular diseases and stroke. As the signature fund-raising event for the American Heart Association, the Heart Walk promotes physical activity and heart-healthy living in a fun family environment. Three Transy teams raised over $800 to donate to this very important cause. Members of the Staff took part in the local Heart Walk.