DES MOINES, Iowa – The Drake University women's basketball program for the fourth-straight school year reached their annual goal of 1,000 hours of community service during the 2016-17 academic calendar year. Under head coach Jennie Baranczyk, the Bulldogs have accumulated more than 4,000 hours of community service around the Drake and Des Moines communities.
 
"It's so important for us to give back to a community that gives so much to Drake," senior Caitlin Ingle said. "There are few things more valuable than serving others. It not only helps build a stronger, happier community, but it builds character. We've met so many great people, too, and have made even more memories along the way."
 
The initiative begins in June each year and ends officially the following June.  In 2016-17 alone, the Bulldogs were involved with organizations ranging from Meals from the Heartland, Courage League Sports, Youth Emergency Services & Shelter, Central Iowa Services & Shelter, Dress a Girl, the Pinky Swear Foundation and Drake Best Buddies, to Scottish Rite Park, Habitat for Humanity, Generation Next Daycare, Character Counts, the Science Center of Iowa and Girl Scouts of Greater Iowa.
 
"It's a great experience and has been for the past four years," senior Lizzy Wendell said. "We love meeting and working with people in the Drake and Des Moines communities. The connections we've made are meaningful not only now, but will be even when we leave here. It's a lot of memories made together that we'll all look back on and be grateful for."
 
The players also served as 'pen pals' for students at Oak Park Elementary School, read to school kids at other local elementary schools during Dr. Seuss week, visited residents at the Wesley Acres Assisted Living Center, helped run the concession stand for Johnston youth softball and assisted in various efforts and events during the Drake Relays presented by Hy-Vee. Not long from now, on June 1, the road to another 1,000 hours for the 2017-18 academic year will commence.