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Duke Athletics is committed to giving back to both the campus and surrounding community. Our teams as well as individual student-athletes are involved each year in an array of service initiatives and projects as well as active among community organizations, schools and hospitals.
Duke Athletics hosted over 200 kids at the 2025 National Girls and Women in Sports Day Clinic, presented by Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina. Held in Cameron Indoor Stadium, the event featured hands-on instruction from Duke’s women’s varsity teams.
Duke field hockey and Duke Cancer Institute are teaming up to raise funds and awareness for cancer research. Proceeds from donations leading up to the game against Boston College will directly support DCI's ongoing efforts.
The third annual Dribble for Victory Over Cancer, hosted by Duke men’s basketball, raised over $130,000, benefiting the V Foundation for Cancer Research and the Pediatric Cancer Research Foundation. The event, held at Wallace Wade Stadium, saw 700 participants dribble around campus to support pediatric cancer research, marking the highest attendance and fundraising total in the event’s history.
Duke men's and women's basketball teams volunteered at the Boys & Girls Clubs of Durham and Orange Counties. The student-athletes participated in basketball games and art activities with the kids, providing an opportunity for interaction and engagement. The CEO of the Boys & Girls Clubs highlighted the event as an important opportunity for local youth to connect with positive role models.
Duke Athletics staff and student-athletes participated in the annual 919 Day of Service on Sept. 19, 2024, engaging in volunteer activities across Durham to support local organizations and strengthen community connections.
Duke men's basketball will host the third annual Dribble for Victory Over Cancer on Oct. 5, uniting the community to raise funds for pediatric cancer research through the Dick Vitale Pediatric Cancer Research Fund. Participants will dribble alongside the team in a one-mile loop around Duke's athletic campus, showcasing collective support in the fight against childhood cancer.
Duke volleyball has welcomed Bailey, a Roxboro, N.C., native living with 22q Deletion Syndrome, to its 2024 signing class through Team IMPACT, a nonprofit that connects children facing serious illnesses with college athletic teams.
Duke student-athletes completed another year of immersive summer service through the ACE Program, contributing over 1,698 hours to community-focused projects in Costa Rica, Panama, and South Africa. The program underscores Duke's commitment to international engagement and supporting communities in need.
Duke men's basketball head coach Jon Scheyer and Arizona State's Bobby Hurley, both Duke national champions, will face off in the Brotherhood Run charity exhibition game on Oct. 27 at Cameron Indoor Stadium. Proceeds will benefit Duke Children's Hospital, continuing the program's long-standing partnership with the local community.
For the second consecutive year, Duke and NC Central volleyball teams are joining forces for the "Battle for Bull City" fundraiser to benefit the Boys & Girls Clubs of Durham and Orange Counties. Both programs are raising funds to support local youth.
Thanks to the Fence for the Fight campaign, a room in the Duke Cancer Center has been dedicated in memory of Elizabeth Beguinet, who passed away after a long battle with breast cancer. Duke fencing raised $72,979.70 in her honor, marking the largest amount raised by a Duke Athletics Olympic sport for Duke Health.
Duke men's basketball was featured in ESPN's "My Wish" series, welcoming 18-year-old Bradee, who battled chronic kidney disease, to fulfill his dream of attending a Duke-UNC game. The series, in partnership with Make-A-Wish, highlights Duke's ongoing efforts to bring joy to children facing critical illnesses.
The Duke men's and women's golf teams raised $17,697.60 during the 2023-24 season through the Birdies for Babies program, benefiting Duke Children's Neonatal and Pediatric Intensive Care Units. Since its inception, the program has raised over $124,000 to support children in need of specialized care.
Durham recognized former Duke men's basketball coach Mike Krzyzewski's deep commitment to the local community by designating N.C. 751 as the Coach K Highway. His work with organizations like the Emily K Center and Duke Children's Hospital highlights his lasting impact on the lives of Durham residents.
In just six years, Duke's United Black Athletes (UBA) has become a thriving organization, creating a supportive community for Black student-athletes and giving them a platform to address social justice issues. UBA continues to build strong connections within Duke and the greater Durham community.
Men's lacrosse hosted an annual Military Appreciation Game to honor the legacy of fallen Army Ranger and former Blue Devil, Jimmy Regan. The game supported the Army Ranger Lead the Way Fund, which benefits veterans and their families, showcasing the program's commitment to honoring those who serve and giving back to the military community.
Duke women's basketball held its annual Pink Game against Notre Dame, dedicated to honoring breast cancer survivors and fighters. Supporters showed solidarity by wearing pink, engaging in a pre-game survivor reception and partaking in the poignant halftime celebration.
The women's basketball team welcomed 14-year-old Cambria to its 2024 class, a collaboration with Team IMPACT. This initiative, which connects children facing serious illnesses with college athletic teams, saw Cambria, who is battling panhypopituitarism and adrenal insufficiency, join the team on Feb. 15.
Duke baseball enters its fifth year of 'K's 4 Kids' Cancer' and second season of 'Bases for Babies.' The initiatives, supporting Duke Children's Hospital, raised over $53,000 in past seasons. This year, fans can pledge for each Blue Devil strikeout and total base to bolster cancer research and patient care.
Wrestling has incorporated James Walter, a seventh-grader from Holly Ridge Middle School, into their roster for the 2023-24 season via Team IMPACT. This initiative, which pairs children battling serious illnesses with college sports teams, facilitated a warm welcome for James, who has been courageously fighting early T-cell precursor acute lymphoblastic leukemia lymphoma and is a passionate Duke fan.
Duke women's basketball hosted its 'We Back Pat' game against No. 15 Florida State on Jan. 25, commemorating the 2023-24 season’s commitment to Alzheimer’s awareness. The game, part of a national initiative, saw Duke's coaching staff don purple quarter zips in support of the Pat Summitt Foundation. The foundation, named for the iconic coach, leads the fight against Alzheimer's disease, with January 2024 seeing schools nationwide participating in 'We Back Pat' games to raise funds and awareness.
Duke and Pitt men's basketball teamed up for the first "Hoops4ALS" games to raise awareness and funds for Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) research. The initiative, supported by a committee including Pitt head coach Jeff Capel III, is in collaboration with the ALS Therapy Development Institute. The games featured tributes to individuals battling ALS, including Jeff Capel Jr., a revered figure in basketball who passed away from ALS complications.
Duke women's basketball hosted a teddy bear toss during the halftime of its game against South Carolina in the Jimmy V Women's Classic. Fans were invited to bring new teddy bears or other stuffed animals, which were collected from the court and later gifted to young patients at Duke Children's Hospital. The team capped off the event with a visit to the hospital to deliver the teddy bears, bringing joy to patients during the holiday season.
The Rubenstein Student-Athlete Civic Engagement (ACE) Program at Duke celebrates its ninth year in 2024, focusing on expanded opportunities and accessibility for student-athletes, particularly in fall sports, for immersive summer service experiences with international community partners. Funded through generous support, the program has facilitated over 20,450 service hours by its alumni globally since its inception in 2015.
The Mamba and Mambacita Sports Foundation (MMSF) and the Duke men's basketball team hosted a MMSF Skills Academy basketball clinic on Thursday, Oct. 19, in the Krzyzewski Center on Duke's campus.
Volleyball renewed its commitment to the Duke Cancer Institute's Teen and Young Adult Oncology Program through the Spike Out Cancer initiative. Honoring a former player's journey to remission after a Hodgkin's lymphoma diagnosis, the Blue Devils dedicated their game against North Carolina to raising awareness and funds for teen and young adult cancer support. First Citizens Bank joined the cause, doubling donations, ensuring that every spike by the Blue Devils counted in the fight against cancer.
At its annual Pink Game, Duke women's soccer raised $6,539 for the Duke Cancer Institute. The Blue Devils donned special pink jerseys, auctioning them after the game to contribute to a three-year total of $15,564 for the institute's vital work.
The Duke men's and women's golf teams joined Duke Children's Hospital doctors and staff at the Washington Duke Inn & Duke Golf Club for a check presentation. The two teams raised $20,818.75 in the 2022-23 season to support the Duke Children's Neonatal and Pediatric Intensive Care Units, bringing the Birdies for Babies program's seven-year total to $107,803.95.
GoDuke The Magazine explores the enduring impact of a unique partnership between the Duke and NC Central volleyball programs that continues to bring the Durham community together.
Duke Athletics staff marked 919 Day by engaging in a series of community service activities throughout Durham, reinforcing their dedication to making a positive impact beyond sports.
Defensive tackle Ja'Mion Franklin has been named to the 2023 Allstate AFCA Good Works Team®, recognizing his outstanding community service and leadership. Franklin, chosen as one of only 22 student-athletes from a pool of 136 nominees nationwide, is celebrated for his contributions both on and off the football field, embodying the commitment to making a positive impact.
Duke volleyball, in collaboration with NC Central volleyball, organized a community event at the Boys & Girls Club in Durham ahead of their historic matchup at NC Central's campus. The match was the first time a Duke team has competed on NCCU's campus in decades and also served as a fundraiser for the Boys & Girls Clubs of Durham and Orange Counties.
Duke men's basketball joined forces with the Pediatric Cancer Research Foundation (PCRF), the V Foundation for Cancer Research and Duke Children's for the second annual Dribble for Victory Over Cancer. This event on Duke's campus, aimed to generate funds for pediatric cancer research via the Dick Vitale Fund for Pediatric Cancer, a dedicated grant fund at the V Foundation.
The 2023 ACE Program in Vietnam has concluded, with student-athletes partnering with Vietnamese college students to teach academics, sports and life skills at a summer camp for middle school youth in rural Vietnam. Their efforts were focused on mentorship, promoting higher education and fostering cross-cultural connections in collaboration with Coach for College (CFC) and Peacework, amplifying the transformative power of international learning experiences.
With the 2023 ACE Program successfully concluded, student-athletes who participated in ACE in South Africa shared their reflections on their transformative summer experiences. These reflections reveal the profound impact of their time in Cape Town, where they contributed to self empowerment and sustainable development projects in local communities through educational workshops and support for outreach and educational awareness programs, under the guidance of GVI Programs.
Student-athletes who participated in the 2023 ACE Program in Costa Rica have shared their final reflection blog posts, expressing their deep gratitude for the experiences and valuable lessons learned in sustainability. They emphasize the importance of community efforts and personal growth, highlighting how the program has broadened their horizons and instilled a sense of responsibility for positive change in their lives and communities.
Ja'Mion Franklin has been recognized by the ACC with the prestigious Top Six for Service Award. This annual accolade honors individuals from each conference institution who demonstrate exceptional dedication to community service and outreach programs. Franklin's commitment to making a difference is evident through his active involvement in various service opportunities, including volunteering at local elementary schools, supporting the Durham Food Pantry, and working with Urban Ministries of Durham. ln an interview with GoDuke.com, the Ridgely, Md., native shares insights into his community engagement.
The ACC recognized several Blue Devils for their exceptional commitment to community service and outreach programs. Four student-athletes from various sports, the Duke baseball team, and the department's United Black Athletes chapter were honored with the league's Top Six for Service Award, highlighting their positive impacts off the field.
Speaking at the 2023 Emily Krzyzewski Center graduation, Coach K emphasized the significance of community support, underscoring the Center's mission to empower underrepresented students in higher education. Coach K's founding of the nonprofit organization in 2006, and the strong partnership between the Emily K Center and Duke University, have made a meaninofu1 impact on students in Durham.
Duke Athletics has been awarded the 2023 Team IMPACT Division I Fellowship Campus of the Year Award for its collaboration with the nonprofit organization. Through the partnership, Duke has successfully matched children facing serious illness and disability with seven active sports teams. Over 11 years, Duke has facilitated 18 all-time matches, fostering a sense of community and support.
1n support of the effort from Facility Monitor Shawn Waitt, Duke Student-Athlete Development partnered with Special Olympics for a fun-filled night of games and dancing. The event, which was held on Duke's West Campus, had over 85 attendees, including Duke student-athletes and members of the Durham community.
