Buffs Give Back
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Be a part of something big when you join Forever Buffs for a day of service this April. No matter where you are, this is an opportunity to connect with fellow alumni while making a difference in your community.
Each Buffs Give Back event is coordinated by a volunteer or group of volunteers and centered around doing something meaningful for each unique community. Individuals or groups can apply to lead a service project that is meaningful to them and their community, and the projects are intended to open to alumni, family and friends of CU Boulder.
Please note that by applying to be a Project Leader, you will be the on-the-ground coordinator for the service project that you choose.
If you have questions or concerns, please reach out directly to Leia Atas at leia.atas@colorado.edu.
View active Buffs Give Back opportunities for April 2026 below:
Make an impact at this volunteer fair for students, alumni, faculty and staff and community members. Join us for a hands-on service event where you will dive into quick service projects to create big change in our community. No experience needed, stay as long as you are able! Registration is not required, so feel free to drop in any time from 11 a.m. - 3 p.m. MT.
Date: April 8
Deadline to Register: No registration necessary.
Location: 1202 University Avenue, Boulder, CO 80537
Location Notes: Parking is available on/near the Hill and on University Avenue.
Time: 11 a.m. - 3 p.m. MT
Activity Type: In-Person, Indoors and Outdoors
Number of Volunteers Needed: 300
Other Notes: Registration for this event is not necessary. Buffs gear is encouraged!
College of Art and Sciences Hellems Grand Re-Opening
Hellems is reopening on April 10, and alumni, friends and the campus community are invited to help celebrate! Volunteers will help set up for the ribbon cutting ceremony for the Hellems Grand Opening. There are also opportunities to volunteer during the event during the Hellems Experience, an interactive scavenger hunt! Volunteers will need to be able to set up chairs outside and assist with multiple indoor opportunities as well.
Date: April 10
Deadline to Register: Monday, April 6
Location: 1550 Central Campus Mall, Boulder, CO 80309
Location Notes: Parking is available on/near the Hill and on University Avenue.
Time: Multiple shifts available from 1 - 6 p.m. MT
Activity Type: In-Person, Indoors and Outdoors
Number of Volunteers Needed: 24
Other Notes: Dress in comfortable shoes.
Celebrate CU’s best and brightest at the Alumni Awards Ceremony and Dinner. Join us for an evening of inspiring stories, incredible accomplishments, and CU pride. This event would not be possible without our volunteers, so we hope to CU there to celebrate our accomplished Alumni Awards winners this year.
Date: Saturday, April 11
Deadline to Register: Thursday, April 9
Location: 1295 University Avenue, Boulder, CO 80309
Location Notes: Parking is available on/near the Hill and on University Avenue.
Time: Multiple shifts available from 3:30 - 10 p.m. MT
Activity Type: In-Person, Indoors
Number of Volunteers Needed: 11
Other Notes: Wear comfortable clothing. Based on your volunteer opportunity, you may need to be dressed in business attire.
Hosted by Forever Buffs New York
Volunteers will help package and distribute free grocery packages to families and individuals experiencing food insecurity. Specific tasks include taking program participants' grocery orders, packaging produce, assembling and distributing each pantry package, and other activities as needed.
Date: Saturday, April 11
Deadline to Register: Monday, April 6
Location: 8 East 109th Street, New York, NY 10029
Time: 9:00 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. ET
Activity Type: In-Person, Outdoors
Number of Volunteers Needed: 15 - 20
Other Notes: Volunteers are expected to stay the duration of the shift and must be able to stand for 3.5 hours and lift up to 30-pound bags of groceries. Dress in comfortable shoes and clothing.
Alumni Notecard Writing Project for Admitted Student Day
Join fellow Buffs for a fun and meaningful alumni gathering where you'll handwrite personal notes for prospective students visiting campus during Admitted Student Day. Share a favorite CU memory, offer a bit of wisdom or simply cheer on the next generation as they decide if they want to become Buffs. We will have snacks, drinks and great company as we come together to show the strength of our alumni community and help inspire future students to say "Yes!" to CU Boulder. Write a note. Grab a snack. Celebrate what it means to be a Buff.
Date: Sunday, April 12
Deadline to Register: Friday, April 10
Location: 1295 University Avenue, Boulder, CO 80309
Location Notes: Parking is available on/near the Hill and on University Avenue.
Time: 4:00 - 5:30 p.m. MT
Activity Type: In-Person, Indoors
Number of Volunteers Needed: 100
Assemble essential kits that support everyday hygiene needs in the community. The event will include three stations—two for packing period kits with menstrual products and one for assembling laundry sheet kits. By packing these items together, volunteers help provide practical, everyday resources that support dignity and care in our community.
Date: Saturday, April 18
Deadline to Register: Monday, April 13
Location: 6452 Fig Street, Unit F, Arvada, CO 80004
Time: 9:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. MT
Activity Type: In-Person, Indoors
Number of Volunteers Needed: 40
Other Notes: Bring a smile and comfortable shoes! Each volunteer will be asked to wear a provided N95 mask, as the President of the organization is immunocompromised.
Please note that this is a volunteer opportunity for alumni, family and friends of the University of Colorado Boulder. Current students are not eligible to participate. Volunteers are needed to help support the nearly 5,000 people in attendance during this daylong open-house event. Volunteer opportunities will include setting up academic presentation rooms, welcoming potential students and their families, guiding attendees throughout campus and other miscellaneous tasks.
Date: Saturday, April 18
Deadline to Register: Friday, March 20
Location: TBD
Location Notes: On-campus locations will be determined at a later date. Look out for an email confirming your location the week of the opportunity.
Time: Multiple shifts available from 6:30 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. MT
Activity Type: In-Person, Indoors/Outdoors
Rocky Mountain Puppy Rescue Adoption Event
Assist Rocky Mountain Puppy Rescue staff with adoption events by meeting with potential adoption families, walking the animals, facilitating meet-and-greets, and assisting with miscellaneous tasks. Be prepared to interact with up to 70 different potential puppy adopters and more than 20 different puppy foster families.
Date: Saturday, April 18
Deadline to Register: Wednesday, April 15
Location: 4100 E. Mexico Avenue, Denver, CO 80222
Location Notes: PetCo in Denver, CO
Time: Multiple shifts available from 10 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. MT
Activity Type: In-Person, Indoors
Number of Volunteers Needed: 30
Other Notes: All volunteers will receive lunch. Please wear clothes that you do not mind getting dirty, as well as comfortable shoes to walk around in.
Hosted by Forever Buffs Houston
Volunteers help with a variety of tasks including weeding, removing invasive plants and vines, spreading mulch, trail clean-up and trash pick-up. Volunteer assignments are determined by the park supervisors each week based on priority and the needs of the parks and green spaces to ensure every volunteer who participates can do so knowing that they truly contributed to Buffalo Bayou! Look out for a "Know Before You Go" email with more instructions prior to your volunteer activity.
Date: Saturday, April 18
Deadline to Register: Friday, April 17
Location: TBD
Location Notes: It will be somewhere along the Buffalo Bayou, but park assignments will be determined the week of the volunteer activity.
Time: 8:30 - 11:30 a.m. CT
Activity Type: In-Person, Outdoors
Number of Volunteers Needed: 10
Other Notes: Please wear comfortable and weather-appropriate clothing that you do not mind getting dirty.
Rocky Mountain Puppy Rescue Adoption Event
Assist Rocky Mountain Puppy Rescue staff with adoption events by meeting with potential adoption families, walking the animals, facilitating meet-and-greets, and assisting with miscellaneous tasks. Be prepared to interact with up to 70 different potential puppy adopters and more than 20 different puppy foster families.
Date: Saturday, April 18
Deadline to Register: Wednesday, April 15
Location: 10600 Melody Drive, Northglenn, CO 80234
Location Notes: Petsmart in Northglenn, CO
Time: Multiple shifts available from 10:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. MT
Activity Type: In-Person, Indoors
Number of Volunteers Needed: 30
Other Notes: All volunteers will receive lunch. Please wear clothes that you do not mind getting dirty, as well as comfortable shoes to walk around in.
Hello Little One, Denver Health
Hosted by Forever Buffs Denver
Help create care packages for newborn babies at Denver Health. For more than 20 years, this program has helped thousands of newborns begin life with the essentials for a safe and healthy start.
Date: Saturday, April 18 or Sunday, April 19
Deadline to Register: Tuesday, April 14
Location: 777 Bannock Street, Denver, CO 80204
Location Notes: Denver Health, street and paid parking is available.
Time: TBD
Activity Type: In-Person, Indoors
Come out to help celebrate the class of 2026 at Grad Bash, which is a celebration for graduating students, featuring free food and refreshments, a DJ and photo opportunities. Hosted on the lawn of the Koenig Alumni Center, this CU tradition is the perfect way for graduates to enjoy their time together in the days leading up to Commencement. We are looking for lots of volunteers to help with setup, event support and teardown at this end-of semester event for students. It will be a fun, celebratory environment and a way to show your support for graduates!
Date: Friday, April 24
Deadline to Register: Monday, April 20
Location: 1295 University Avenue, Boulder, CO 80309
Location Notes: Parking is available on/near the Hill and on University Avenue.
Time: Multiple shifts available from 10:00 a.m. - 9:00 p.m. MT
Activity Type: In-Person, Outdoors
Number of Volunteers Needed: 70
Other Notes: CU spirit gear is encouraged! Please wear comfortable shoes and weather-appropriate attire.
Rocky Mountain Puppy Rescue Adoption Event
Assist Rocky Mountain Puppy Rescue staff with adoption events by meeting with potential adoption families, walking the animals, facilitating meet-and-greets, and assisting with miscellaneous tasks. Be prepared to interact with up to 70 different potential puppy adopters and more than 20 different puppy foster families.
Date: Saturday, April 25
Deadline to Register: Wednesday, April 22
Location: 4100 E. Mexico Avenue, Denver, CO 80222
Location Notes: PetCo in Denver, CO
Time: Multiple shifts available from 10 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. MT
Activity Type: In-Person, Indoors
Number of Volunteers Needed: 30
Other Notes: All volunteers will receive lunch. Please wear clothes that you do not mind getting dirty, as well as comfortable shoes to walk around in.
Rocky Mountain Puppy Rescue Adoption Event
Assist Rocky Mountain Puppy Rescue staff with adoption events by meeting with potential adoption families, walking the animals, facilitating meet-and-greets, and assisting with miscellaneous tasks. Be prepared to interact with up to 70 different potential puppy adopters and more than 20 different puppy foster families.
Date: Saturday, April 25
Deadline to Register: Wednesday, April 22
Location: 10600 Melody Drive, Northglenn, CO 80234
Location Notes: Petsmart in Northglenn, CO
Time: Multiple shifts available from 10:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. MT
Activity Type: In-Person, Indoors
Number of Volunteers Needed: 30
Other Notes: All volunteers will receive lunch. Please wear clothes that you do not mind getting dirty, as well as comfortable shoes to walk around in.
Friends of the Mount Vernon Trail
Hosted by Forever Buffs Washington D.C.
Help to remove trash from the marsh around the Marina Towers on the Mount Vernon Trail.
Date: Saturday, April 25
Deadline to Register: Monday, April 20
Location: 501 Slaters Lane, Alexandria, VA 22314
Location Notes: The work area is on the Mount Vernon Trail in the marsh near Marina Towers. Meet further north on the trail since there is more space to set up equipment.
Time: 10:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. ET
Activity Type: In-Person, Outdoors
Number of Volunteers Needed: 5
Other Notes: Bring water and gloves if you have them. Wear long sleeves, long pants and waterproof boots/shoes.
City of Colorado Springs, Adopt-A-Waterway
Hosted by Forever Buffs Colorado Springs
Help to clean up trash along a waterway in Colorado Springs! The assigned quarter-mile waterway is between Hancock and Union Boulevard.
Date: Sunday, April 26
Deadline to Register: Tuesday, April 21
Location: 3535 N. Hancock, Colorado Springs, CO 80907
Location Notes: Park south of Portal Park at the round-about, along the Templeton Gap Bike Trail, look for the Buffs flag to mark the spot.
Time: 1 - 3 p.m. MT
Activity Type: In-Person, Outdoors
Number of Volunteers Needed: 15 - 40
Other Notes: Trash bags will be provided. Bring work gloves and wear durable shoes.
This program is open to all CU Boulder alumni and does not discriminate based on race, color, national origin, sex age, disability, creed, religion, veteran status, marital status, political affiliation, political philosophy, pregnancy, sexual orientation, gender identity or gender expression in accordance with state, federal, and Regent law.
