Coogs in the Community

University of Houston participates in a number of community service and community outreach events throughout the year which benefit the greater Houston area. Many students are actively involved in helping their fellow Houstonians through events such as 9/11 Day of Service, Back to School Fest, and March of Dimes. Learn more about the events UH Community participates in annually below:

Treating Obesity in Underserved Communities in Houston (TOUCH) 

Treating Obesity in Underserved Communities in Houston (TOUCH) is a program funded by the UnitedHealth Foundation to help identify residents of Houston's Third Ward and East End at risk for chronic diseases and connect them with programs and services to fully maximize their health potential.

Turn the Page Literacy Initiative

University of Houston partners with KHOU every summer to provide at-risk children with books as part of "Turn the Page," a literacy initiative aimed at encouraging summer reading throughout our community. KHOU raised nearly 15,500 books in 2018. The books collected are distributed through the Houston-based non-profit “Books Between Kids, serves Houston’s at-risk children by providing them with books to build their own home libraries.

Mayor's Back to School Fest

The Mayor's Back to School Fest ensures that 25,000 area students from kindergarten to fifth grade are prepared to begin school ready to learn on the first day. As in previous years, this year’s event offered school supplies, backpacks, clothes, City of Houston information health screenings, immunizations, and social service resources to families so they could focus on sending healthy, prepared children back to the classroom to learn. 

March of Dimes March for Babies

For almost 23 years UH has hosted the annual March of Dimes March for Babies walk to help raise funds and awareness about the dangers of premature birth. UH, corporate and personal teams spend months fundraising using unique and exciting ideas. Houston's MOD walk is the largest in the country with almost 40,000 walkers.

Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. once said, "Life's most persistent and urgent question is: 'What are you doing for others?'". Each year Coogs gather for MLK Day of Service in this spirit and to honor the work and teachings of Dr. King. Coogs donate their time and energies to local non-profits such as Meals on Wheels, Forge for Families, the Houston Food Bank, and The Houston Public Library.