UF, Louisville team up for pre-Sugar Bowl community service project

December 19, 2012

GAINESVILLE, Fla. — Before the Florida Gators and the Louisville Cardinals face off on the field, fans of both teams are invited to connect to the New Orleans community and give back to the host city.

The University of Florida and the University of Louisville, in collaboration with The Sankofa Community Development Corp., will host a cooperative community service project in New Orleans on Jan. 2, the morning of the Allstate Sugar Bowl.

As an official part of the bowl festivities, volunteers will work outdoors in New Orleans’ Ninth Ward to help build an urban garden. Volunteers will shovel, plant and help clean up trash in the area. This project allows volunteers to honor the land-grant mission of the two schools and make a difference.

Volunteers are needed the morning of Jan. 2 and must be on site by 9:30 a.m. The service project will end at noon. Interested participants must register online at www.leadershipandservice.ufl.edu/bowlgame.php by Dec. 27. The service project is limited to 50 volunteers. Participation is welcome from students, parents, alumni, faculty/staff, UF leaders, athletics representatives and other special university representatives.

Bus transportation to the service project site will be provided from the Hilton Riverside (2 Poydras St.), leaving at 9 a.m.

The Sankofa Community Development Corp. serves as a catalyst to revitalize New Orleans’ Lower and Upper Ninth Ward communities. Sankofa CDC works to increase access to fresh healthy produce and educate residents about the importance of growing and consuming healthy foods. More information is available at www.sankofanola.org.