Oct. 6, 2016 UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - Penn State Athletics capped off its annual participation in the yearly Col. Gerald Russell PNC Bank-United Way "Day of Caring" Thursday. Nittany Lion coaches and student-athletes from various athletics programs spent time doing a variety of tasks throughout the Happy Valley community. Members from Penn State men's and women's basketball, softball, women's lacrosse, men's soccer, men's volleyball and men's and women's fencing all participated in varying service efforts at the Penn State Arboretum, the Centre Furnace Mansion, the Penn State Golf Course and Circleville Park.In its 23rd year, "Day of Caring" volunteers ranging from local members of the community to Penn State Athletics coaches and student-athletes work to improve the Centre County region by assisting non-profits, historical sites, municipal properties and parks. The yearly event is one of the largest annual volunteer outings in Centre County.In addition to a longstanding partnership with PNC Bank, the United Way recently renamed the event to the Col. Gerald Russell PNC Bank-United Way Day of Caring to honor its original founder, Gerald Russell, who passed away February 24, 2014.As has become a bit of tradition for the Nittany Lions, the Penn State men's basketball team was up early this morning, kicking off the event serving up breakfast to the nearly 1,500 volunteers who were set to begin their community service projects.
Lots of hungry @unitedway #DayofCaring volunteers being served @JordanCenter breakfast by #PSUMBB. #WeAre part of an extraordinary community pic.twitter.com/NW14r1N1gl
-- Penn State Hoops (@PennStateMBB) October 6, 2016
Student-athletes and staff from the Nittany Lion softball, men's soccer and women's soccer teams joined local volunteers for extensive landscaping and maintenance at the Centre Furnace Mansion.
#PennStateSB is working hard all morning at Centre Furnace Mansion for United Way #DayOfCaring! pic.twitter.com/p2uoCD7yVt
-- Penn State Softball (@PennStateSB) October 6, 2016
Members of the Nittany Lion women's basketball coaching staff spent time at the Penn State Arboretum while men's and women's fencing took time at the Penn State golf courses.Penn State men's volleyball closed out the day putting in work on the sand volleyball courts at Sunset Park."Giving back means a lot to me," redshirt junior Jalen Penrose (men's volleyball) said. "I always want to give back to the community in any way, shape or form that I can. Even the small things." Check out our full photo gallery from the entire day below.