NAPERVILLE, Ill. -- As we continue to celebrate the College Conference of Illinois & Wisconsin's (CCIW) 75th anniversary in 2020-21, the conference will recognize the great work of our student-athlete through the 75 Acts of Kindness campaign. 

While COVID-19 poses many challenges for our conference members, our student-athletes are committed to continuing to give back to their communities. 

CCIW institutions will report on their various Acts of Kindness throughout the year with the goal of each athletics department performing at least 75 Acts of Kindness. This can include, but are not limited to, community service events like a canned food or clothing drive, volunteering to spend time virtually with local schools, or an event with an organization like Special Olympics. Additionally, student-athletes can also report on any community service activities they do on their own.

The conference will recognize these Acts of Kindness through April when institutions are recognized during the CCIW's end-of-year Student-Athlete Advisory Council (SAAC) meeting.

Here is a summary of our student-athlete's progress:

November 2020 Report
December 2020 Report
January 2021 Report

75 Acts of Kindness Report (February 2021)

Carroll
Carroll men's basketball hosted a "reading with the Pios" campaign. Each week, men's basketball student-athletes read books to local area elementary school students. Two weeks ago, two men's basketball student-athletes read to third-grade and fifth-grade students, with a fun Q&A after the book. 

The Carroll softball team wanted to celebrate Valentine's Day by making hand made Valentines for the members, staff, and drivers at Adaptive Community Approach Program (ACAP) in Waukesha. Together, they made Valentine cards and created small gift bags. ACAP's mission is to encourage people with disabilities to achieve their highest potential and acquire lifelong skills that will enable them to be contributing and valued members within their communities. ACAP explores and encourages self-advocacy, health and wellness, and community membership.

The Carroll softball team collected jars of peanut butter and donated them to the local Waukesha Food Pantry.

The Carroll women's soccer team created Valentine's Day cards for children in hospitals, military members and the elderly.

The Carroll women's swimming team wrote cards for a local nursing home the help get them through the cold during the past week. 

Elmhurst
The Elmhurst baseball team donated over 40 pairs of unused baseball game pants to Kids Alive International, a baseball ministry in the Dominican Republic. 

Elmhurst student-athletes took part in a road cleanup on Route 83 near campus as part of the Elmhurst Character Counts Initiative. 

Illinois Wesleyan
In the fall, the Illinois Wesleyan Women's Lacrosse team was able to participate in the Titans Run for Hope Fall 5K through SAAC, which donated to Center for Hope Food Pantry. In December, the team wrote letters to veterans at the Adjutant Illinois Veterans Home in LaSalle, Illinois. In January, they collected items for everyday needs including toilet paper, canned fruits and vegetables, notebooks and hair brushes for the Home Sweet Home Ministries in Bloomington, Illinois. In February, the team gave Valentines cards to the elderly for Valentines Day through SAAC. 

North Central
The North Central women's bowling team wrote and sent personalized holiday cards to a senior living residence in southern Illinois. The residents at Autumn Fields in Savoy, Illinois were surprised with holiday cheer via hand made greeting cards.

75 Acts of Kindness Totals (as of February 2021)
 

Institution	Acts of Kindness Total
North Central	121
Elmhurst	120
Carroll	90
Illinois Wesleyan	64
Millikin	55
Carthage	35
Augustana	16

 
The College Conference of Illinois & Wisconsin (CCIW) was founded in 1946 and currently services nine member institutions including Augustana College (Rock Island, IL), Carroll University (Waukesha, WI), Carthage College (Kenosha, WI), Elmhurst University (Elmhurst, IL), Illinois Wesleyan University (Bloomington, IL), Millikin University (Decatur, IL), North Central College (Naperville, IL), North Park University (Chicago, IL) and Wheaton College (Wheaton, IL).