Mizzou student-athletes support the local Columbia area through vigorous community service and outreach. Some of the organizations include:

Big Brothers Big Sisters
Student-athletes serve as mentors to local youth.

Central Missouri Food Bank
Several Mizzou athletic events such as Beauty and the Beast and the spring football game collect canned food items for free admission to be donated to the Central Missouri Food Bank. Student-athletes also volunteer to help sort and repackage food items.

Columbia Public Schools
Athletes make frequent visits to local elementary and middle school classrooms, assemblies, and special events.

Community About Raising Excellence (C.A.R.E.)¨
C.A.R.E. is a minority, student-athlete, service-based organization that strives to have a true presence on campus and in the community. Founded in 2008, C.A.R.E. has volunteered at several Columbia public schools and participated in local food drives.

National Student-Athlete Day
Every year the NCAA recognizes student-athletes nationwide who excel in the classroom, on the playing field and in their communities through National Student-Athlete Day events. The expectations that students have to succeed academically alone are enormous. The fact that these students are able to strive for excellence on and off the field deserves a great deal of recognition. National Student-Athlete Day is not only a time to celebrate the accomplishments of our student athletes, but to also give back to the community.

Special Olympics
Special Olympics serves as the Big 12’s charity of choice since May 1996. The Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) has formed a Special Olympics committee to help build a stronger relationship with Special Olympics as well as to increase opportunities for student-athletes to get involved.

Starlight Reading Program
The Starlight Reading Program was created to promote literacy. Every Wednesday throughout the fall and spring semester, student-athletes volunteer to read a book to children in local classrooms via video conferencing technology. After the reading, the student-athlete discusses the book with the children and the children have the opportunity to ask the athlete questions.

The Children’s Hospital – The first Tuesday of every month athletes volunteer to visit The Children’s Hospital. Student-athletes interact with youth, sign autographs, take pictures, and hand out Mizzou memorabilia.

United Way
Every year the athletic department supports the Heart of Missouri United Way in their yearly campaign to help identify human service needs in our community.