Auburn University coaches and administrators were seen across county giving back to the community Monday, April 27.
"Tigers Give Back" consisted of nearly 200 coaches, administrators and staff members of the Auburn University Athletic Department.
Created by Auburn student-athletes, this community event visited 18 different schools and agencies across the Auburn-Opelika area.
"Our student-athletes challenged us to support them and their community service efforts," said Athletic Director Jay Jacobs. "We're just following their lead and learning from them about what it means to come out and support your neighbors."
The community service projects that were included in "Tigers Give Back" were Habitat for Humanity, Boys and Girls Club for Lee County and helping out at the Dean Road Elementary School.
Jacobs said the purpose of this event was to give back to the community because of all it has done for the Auburn sports community.
"Our fans and the community have supported us in so many ways," Jacobs said. "There is no we can repay them for all that they have done, but to be able to give back just a little bit is great. It's just the Auburn spirit."
Auburn baseball head coach John Pawloski got straight to work after a weekend three-game series in Lousiana.
He, along with the other baseball coaches, spent the day at the Boys and Girls Club working hard on improvements.
They cleaned out the attic and painted the teen center.
"It's great to be able to reach out to the community and to give back," Pawloski said. "My staff got in late last night after a long weekend, but it has been great to be out here helping at the Boys and Girls Club this morning. It's a great charity because there are a lot of children who need some place safe to go after school and to learn life skills, so we were thrilled to be here today."
The Boys and Girls Club of Opelika's main objective is to help the younger community and be a refuge to those in need.
They have different programs appealing to a wide age range.
Jacobs and a crew of 10 worked with the Habitat for Humanity.
Eric O'Brien said he enjoyed seeing Jacobs and the other volunteers working on the Auburn house that was under construction.
O'Brien, a single father of three, plans to move into this house after it is completed.
"It's really special for me to see these people with so much more they could be doing today take the time to come out here and help with the house," O'Brien said. "There is no way I could afford this house if not for Habitat, and Habitat can't do it without the help of volunteers. We had a lot of fun and got a lot done."
Habitat for Humanity is a volunteer-based program that is focused on helping families in need with their homes by building and renovating houses.
Auburn track and field head coach Ralph Spry and other staff members spent the day at Dean Road Elementary School.
They read to first grade classes and helped with physical education classes, preparing them for a charity run Friday.
"I'm having a ball with these children this morning," Spry said. "When you come representing Auburn as coaches, their eyes just light up. It's great to see."
There is hope to make "Tigers Give Back" an annual event.
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