11/08/26 | General
EUGENE, Ore. – The roar from sections of Autzen Stadium during September's game against Portland State came from about 1,000 kids, most of them seeing a college football game for the first time. For the University of Oregon athletics department and The Hope Project, it was another event in a longstanding partnership that has now put more than 16,000 local students inside a Ducks venue and had a significant community impact.
Since 2018, the two have combined to bring 16,571 students to 21 different Duck athletic events through The Hope Project's "Kids in the Crowd" program. The local non-profit works with area school districts to identify students who would benefit most, and the athletic department provides the access.
"When local kids get welcomed into Oregon's venues, they figure out pretty quickly that the university isn't just something sitting in their community," said Ken Brown, executive director of the Hope Project. "It's part of their community. And more than 16,000 kids have been able to walk into a place like Autzen or Hayward and feel like they belong there."
Many Duck sports have utilized this program, and women's basketball has hosted the largest groups, welcoming 2,000 students in 2018 and another 2,600 in 2025. Softball brought in 2,700 in 2025 alone. Oregon track and field has accounted for more than 2,500 across NCAA championships, the Big Ten Outdoor Championships meet, and the Oregon Twilight at Hayward Field. Volleyball, men's basketball, and a National Signing Day event have all hosted groups, and one trip even took students to the New York Liberty exhibition game.
The 2025-26 academic year was the program's largest, with roughly 7,500 students attending Oregon events across seven different opportunities. Oregon legends Marcus Mariota, Sabrina Ionescu, and Justin Herbert have all partnered with The Hope Project in past years to cover tickets for kids.
More events are in the works for the coming year to connect more local students to Oregon's teams and student-athletes.
Sunday, November 08
Sunday, November 08
Sunday, November 08
Sunday, November 08
