ORANGE, Calif. – The University of La Verne football team keeps on giving back.

Last week, freshman safety Lorenzo Marks, sophomore running back Travis Sparks and senior quarterback Justin Gomez spoke to children who were the victims of abuse, neglect and abandonment at the Orangewood Children and Family Center.

What made it even more inspiring than usual is that the players set up the service on their own initiative and approached the coaches about the opportunity.

Marks, who was introduced to the Orangewood Foundation by his mother and had been volunteering for about a year, says he was inspired by other guest speakers—including former Major League Baseball player Jim Abbot and Division I athletes—and decided to speak to the kids.

"After the first time [volunteering], you really see how some of these kids don't have anyone there for them," Marks said. "They really appreciate your being there."

He asked Gomez and Sparks if they wanted to join him in speaking to the children and his teammates jumped at the opportunity.

The three Leopards spoke about life in college, football and their future. After each of them spoke, they held a Q-and-A session during which the kids asked about their favorite foods, "planking," and much more.

Afterwards, they tossed the pigskin, shot hoops and danced with the children.

Marks recalled a young girl who was too shy to approach him after the talk that made him realize how much he and his teammates being there meant to some of the kids.

"At first, we didn't even realize she wanted to talk to us," Marks said. "But a volunteer came up to us and told us that she had been trying to get our attention five or six times.

"It's really special to the kids that people come and talk them."

Orangewood Children's Foundation offers emergency assistance, job placement, transitional housing, peer counseling, and scholarships for college or vocational training to give abused and neglected children the chance to succeed despite their painful pasts. For more information on the Orangewood Children's Foundation, CLICK HERE.

As a part of the Beyond the Goalpost program started by head coach Chris Krich, the football team has been actively involved in the local community. In September 2013, coach Brent Baier and four members of the team donated enough hair for a whole prosthetic hair piece to the Locks of Love and the team also hosted a blood drive for the City of Hope on the La Verne campus. The team also has been involved with Habitat for Humanity for the past three years, during which they raised money and helped build the Ontiveros family home.