TOLEDO, Ohio – More than 70 coaches and staff from the University of Toledo Athletic Department lent a helping hand to the Toledo community on 419 Day by volunteering over 200 hours in a number of community projects on Wednesday, April 19.  

The Rockets collaborated with leaders from the Art Tatum Zone to clean up city parks and build a fence at the Art Tatum House, located at 1123 City Park in Toledo. The Art Tatum House is the childhood home of jazz legend and Toledo native Art Tatum. The Art Tatum Zone is a non-profit community organization that has worked to renovate the Art Tatum House, and is also active in promoting community projects that help revitalize city neighborhoods.   

419 Day takes its name from the area code 419 that is commonly used in the Toledo area. In recent years, it has been marked as an unofficial holiday in the Toledo area to celebrate and support our community. 

"419 Day was an opportunity for our Athletic Department to give something back to the community that has always supported us," said UT Vice President and Director of Athletics Bryan B. Blair. "I am a big believer in the concept of Team Toledo, where our community comes together to build something greater than ourselves. 419 Day is a perfect example of what we can accomplish if we are all on the same team.

"I would like to thank the Art Tatum Zone for helping create the opportunity for us to serve our community on 419 Day. I would also like to thank senior associate athletic director Tony Belt for organizing our part in 419 Day volunteer activities, as well as executive athletic director Nicole Alderson and executive assistant Rebecca Lugo for their leadership throughout the day."