SAINT LEO, Fla. – The Saint Leo University Lions proudly took part in beginning of Mary Cannon Cabot Beautification Month, an annual initiative celebrating the life and legacy of longtime Saint Leo supporter and community leader Mary Cannon Cabot. The month-long effort once again served as an opportunity for Saint Leo's student-athletes to give back to the community and preserve the natural beauty of the campus that Mary and her husband, Bob, so deeply cherished.

Throughout the month, teams from across Saint Leo Athletics partnered with the Town of St. Leo on projects designed to enhance and beautify shared spaces. From planting flowers and restoring garden beds to refreshing areas around the Abbey Golf Course, University Turf Stadium, and campus dock, the Lions worked side by side to honor a family whose generosity and vision helped shape the Saint Leo community.

"I'm so proud to see our student-athletes continuing this special tradition," said Bob Cabot, husband of the late Mary Cannon Cabot. "Beautification Month has always been about caring for the place we all love and serving others with joy. Mary's heart was always with Saint Leo University and its athletics, and I know she would be smiling to see how these young men and women carry that same pride forward."

Student-athletes and coaches from programs including acrobatics & tumbling, baseball, beach volleyball, softball, women's lacrosse, women's soccer, and men's basketball joined together to represent the Lions during this year's kickoff service day. Their hands-on involvement embodied Saint Leo's core values of community and responsible stewardship — principles that Mary and Bob Cabot lived by and inspired in others.

"Beautification Month reflects what it means to be a Lion," said Marcal Lazeby, Vice President of Athletics and Wellness. "Mary and Bob Cabot's impact on Saint Leo continues to guide our community. Their commitment to service, kindness, and support for our student-athletes is woven into the very foundation of our athletics program. We're proud to continue honoring that legacy through action."

The month's activities will continue with additional service projects around campus and the town of St. Leo, strengthening the shared bond between Saint Leo University and the community it calls home.