Buffs Give Back
Buffs Give Back | Celebrating National Volunteer Month in April
Buffs have the opportunity to be a part of something big when they join fellow Forever Buffs for a day or days of service in April. No matter where you roam, this is an opportunity to connect with fellow alumni while making a difference in your community. Each Buffs Give Back opportunity is coordinated by a volunteer or group of volunteers that is centered around doing something meaningful for their unique community.Ìý
Project Leader applications for the next Buffs Give Back will open in January 2027, but you can reach out to Leia Crow directly at leia.crow@colorado.edu with specific questions.ÌýÌý
In partnership with the Office of Admissions and Student Affairs, we asked Forever Buffs to help us handwrite a couple thousand notecards for potential incoming students that share a bit of wisdom, share a favorite CU memory or simply cheer on the next generation as they decide whether they want to become Buffs.Ìý
There were three public in-person notecard writing opportunities in 91ÃÛÌÒ¸ó, a notecard writing event hosted by Forever Buffs Colorado Springs at a local brewery, multiple on-campus groups that hosted their own notecard writing events and a remote opportunity for Buffs to write and mail their handwritten notecards back to us.ÌýÌý
9
Participating Groups
1,876
Notecards Written
175
Volunteers
The Alumni Association offers $300,000 in scholarships each year to incoming and current students, and it would not be possible without our scholarship reviewers.Ìý
208
VolunteersÌý
2,000
Scholarship ApplicantsÌý
100+
Scholarships Awarded
Ìý
Students, alumni and community members made an impact at the first-ever hands-on service event where volunteers could dive into quick service projects to create big change in the community.
The following local organizations participated and provided projects such as blanket construction, bag decorating, bracelet making, crafts to donate and feminine hygiene packaging:Ìý
- Admitted Student Day Notecard Writing ProgramÌý
- Project Angel HeartÌý
- Project LinusÌý
- CultivateÌý
- Love for LilyÌý
- Meals on WheelsÌý
- Justice NecessaryÌýÌý
There were close to 100 volunteers over the course of four hours, and hundreds of projects were completed. Thank you to our partners at WingShack for providing food!Ìý
6
Non-profit Partners
124
Volunteers
1,000+
Completed Projects
Forever Buffs New York helped to package and distribute free grocery packages to families and individuals experiencing food insecurity.Ìý
They took grocery orders, packaged produce, assembled and distributed each pantry package and helped with other miscellaneous tasks.ÌýÌý
15
Volunteers
52.5
Volunteer Hours
Ìý
Buffs assembled essential kits that support everyday hygiene needs in the community that included packing period product kits and assembling laundry sheet kits. Our volunteers helped to provide practical resources that support dignity and care in the community.ÌýÌý
Multiple volunteers on four separate occasions assisted Rocky Mountain Puppy Rescue staff and adoption events by meeting with potential adoption families, walking the animals, facilitating meet-and-greets and assisting with other tasks that would help the puppies find homes.Ìý
16
Volunteers
6
Kittens Adopted
21
Puppies Adopted
Ìý
Buffs created care packages for newborn babies at Denver Health hosted by Forever Buffs Denver. For more than 20 years, this program has helped thousands of newborns begin life with the essentials for a safe and healthy start!
9
Volunteers
75
Packages Assembled
Ìý
The streets and sidewalks of 91ÃÛÌÒ¸ó are cleaner, 91ÃÛÌÒ¸ó Creek has less gunk in it, hundreds of notecards were written for potential future Buffs to be handed out at Admitted Student Day, and some campus garden beds are free of weeds—just in time for all the end-of-year celebrations.
Our fourth annual Advancement Staff Volunteer Day was a success, and we want to give the most special shoutout to those who braved the April snowstorm to pick up trash and pull weeds. ÌýIt brought us so much joy to witness the collaboration of the Advancement staff to make a positive impact on the community.
48
Volunteers
18
Full Trash Bags Collected
392
Notecards Written
Ìý
Close to 50 volunteers showed up to help celebrate the class of 2026 at Grad Bash!Ìý
This celebration for graduating students featured free food and refreshments, a DJ and photo opportunities. We had volunteers that helped with set-up, event support and teardown at this end-of-semester event for our students, and it would not have been a success without them!ÌýÌý
41
Volunteers
2,485
Graduates SupportedÌý
123
Volunteer Hours
This program is open to all CU 91ÃÛÌÒ¸ó alumni and does not discriminate based on race, color, national origin, sex age, disability, creed, religion, veteran status, marital status, political affiliation, political philosophy, pregnancy, sexual orientation, gender identity or gender expression in accordance with state, federal, and Regent law.