Hilltoppers with Heart Update: Toppers Spread Holiday Cheer

Dec. 17, 2015

Hilltoppers With Heart, sponsored by Passport Health Plan, was founded in 2011 and is designed to give WKU student-athletes, coaches and staff the unique opportunity to make an impact in the community by volunteering time and talent with numerous organizations including The United Way, Boys and Girls Clubs, local schools and many more. In 2013-14, WKU accumulated over 1,000 hours of community service, and in 2014-15 the goal will be significantly higher. Passport Health Plan is a provider-sponsored, non-profit, community-based Medicaid health plan that has been contracted with Kentucky's Cabinet for Health and Family Services to administer Medicaid benefits since 1997. Medicaid members can choose Passport to be their health care provider, and as of June 30, 2014, there are more than 6,300 Passport members living in Region 4, which includes Warren County and the campus of Western Kentucky University.

Here is a look at some of the things WKU Athletics is doing around South Central Kentucky:

Members of WKU football, men's basketball and track and field took time out of their busy schedules to sit down with Russell athletics executives on Nov. 12 as part of an athlete focus group. During the meetings, several student-athletes collaborated with company officials and gave their feedback for a new performance underwear line being produced by the Bowling Green-based company.

The following day, Nov. 13, members of the Lady Topper basketball team hosted WKU's Kelly Autism Program in E.A. Diddle Arena. The Lady Toppers entertained the members of the program by playing basketball games, taking photos and signing autographs.

On Nov. 22, members of WKU cheer and women's golf helped organize gift boxes for the homeless and needy at the Fraternal Order of Police Lodge as part of the Thanksgiving Family Food Basket Program.

"Thank you to the WKU student-athletes for helping support the Thanksgiving Family Food Basket Program," said officials from the FOP. "With their help, we were able to help over 138 families."

Members of the WKU softball team were recognized during the WKU men's basketball game against Eastern Kentucky on Dec. 1 for their continual involvement in the Big Red's Readers program. The program is a literacy initiative that encourages reading among first and second grade students.

About the Kelly Autism Program

"The Kelly Autism Program (KAP) is designed to provide services to individuals from the age of seven through adulthood, who have been diagnosed along the Autism Spectrum Continuum, as well as their families. KAP also serves as a training opportunity for future professionals in a variety of disciplines. KAP programming includes: elementary school, middle school, high school and post-secondary participants including higher education, vocational training, and job support."

About Big Red's Readers

"Big Red's Readers is a literacy initiative program that puts stuffed animals into the hands of elementary school students. These stuffed animals are provided to first and second grade students in the Bowling Green community by the WKU Softball team. They are "adopted" by these students and act as the children's "reading buddy." The stuffed animals are then the students' to keep. The bond formed between the students and their "buddies" has proved to create an exciting and motivating environment for reading. The goal is for each child to read to their new friend a minimum of 20 minutes each day. This program creates excitement for reading and literacy improvement not only in the classroom but in the students' homes as well. Parents are encouraged to sit alongside their children and their reading buddies to promote a proactive reading environment at home."

Related Videos