The Knights Give Back, UCF’s annual campuswide day of service, has been a tradition since 2007. The goal is to bring UCF Knights together for one day to make a difference in the Central Florida community.
On October 15, Volunteer UCF held its fifth annual Knights Give Back with over 1,000 students, alumni, faculty and staff including, for the first time, volunteers from UCF’s Regional Campuses, volunteering at 22 sites throughout the Central Florida community.
Participants provided a number of services to the community, from helping to clean the Wekiva River, restoring a local natural area in Oviedo and setting up a festival for the residents of Winter Park Towers to volunteering at Give Kids the World.
“This event helps to ignite the volunteers’ passion for service. Knights Give Back allows participants to really see the impact they can make on the lives of their neighbors,” said Mark Baker, Knights Give Back site leader at Give Kids the World.
The event serves as a way to promote civic engagement between UCF and Orlando and helps to build partnerships with local non-profits. In the five years the program has existed, Knights Give Back has provided over 3,000 volunteers, participated in almost 11,000 hours of service, and saved Central Florida over $219,200.