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AFH News

Posted: Updated: by Hannah Bronkema

AFH’s Influential Olympians

Every year in March, we celebrate International Women’s Day, a time to celebrate women’s achievements and forge a more inclusive world for women of all ages.

From our AFH Founding Athletes and our newly formed Athlete Leadership Council to our Board of Directors, Athletes for Hope is proud to recognize the influential women Olympians of AFH who are passionate about creating a more equitable world in and out of sport. 

From supporting young women in sports and creating safe recreational spaces, to STEM education, Title IX, and more, the future is equitable for all.

Mia Hamm

AFH Founding Athlete

Arguably one of the world’s greatest athletes of all time, Mia Hamm’s accolades include 2 Olympic gold medals, 1 Olympic silver medal, 2 FIFA World Cups, 4 NCAA National Championships and AFH’s 2023 Mia Hamm Founding Athlete Award. Aside from her impressive sport resume, in 1999 she created the Mia Hamm Foundation whose mission includes raising funds and awareness for families in need of a marrow or cord blood transplant and the development of opportunities for young women in sports. 

The Mia Hamm Foundation is committed to furthering the groundbreaking growth of female participation in sports that has occurred under Title IX, the landmark 1972 legislation that bans sex discrimination in academics and athletics at educational institutions across the country.

Jackie Joyner-Kersee

AFH Founding Athlete

Having been named by Sports Illustrated for Women as the ‘Greatest Female Athlete of the 20th Century,’ it’s no surprise that Jackie Joyner-Kersee’s accolades include 6 Olympic medals and a track and field world record. After she retired from sport, Jackie created the Jackie Joyner-Kersee Foundation which works to ensure that every East St. Louis-area youth is given the opportunity to achieve greatness and succeed in academics, athletics and leadership.

Born and raised in East St. Louis, Jackie is committed to ensuring that all children have access to high-quality after-school programs, safe recreational places within their communities, and caring adults to help them achieve their dreams.

Katie Ledecky

Athlete Leadership Council Member

Katie Ledecky, a ten-time Olympic gold medalist in swimming, is recognized as one of the most dominant athletes of all time. Often called the ‘First Lady of Freestyle’, she has broken 16 World Records and 37 American Records in her career. In 2022, she received Athletes for Hope’s Community Hero Award. Out of the pool, Ledecky is an advocate for education, gender equality, and the empowerment of young athletes. 

Having been involved in community service since the age of 15, Ledecky is most passionate about education. She has recently partnered with Panasonic and Discovery Education on an equal-opportunity STEM program called STEM Forward. The program encourages young students to get involved in science, technology, engineering and math. To learn more about how Ledecky gives back to her community, click here.

Julie Foudy

AFH Board Member

Julie Foudy is a retired professional soccer player who spent 17 years as a member of the US Women’s National Team, 13 of them as a captain. She is a two-time Olympic Gold Medalist, Olympic Silver Medalist, and two-time Women’s World Cup Champion. Julie finished her National Team career with 45 goals, 59 assists and 272 international appearances (caps) for the USA. Her 272 caps rank third in the world all-time, male or female. She was inducted in the US National Soccer Hall of Fame in 2007. A current analyst for ABC/ESPN and the NBC Olympics, director of her Julie Foudy Sports Leadership Academies and a motivational speaker, Julie is most proud of the difference she has made off the field.

In 1997, the world governing body of soccer, FIFA, awarded her the FIFA Fair Play Award, the first woman and American to receive the award, for her work against child labor in the stitching of soccer balls. Julie was the President of the Women’s Sports Foundation (WSF) from 2000-2002, served on the WSF Board of Directors for 7 years and was a WSF advocacy consultant for two years, with a focus on Title IX, childhood obesity, and athletes’ rights issues. She also served as a member for the Commission on Title IX, appointed by President Bush and Secretary Paige and has been honored numerous times for her work on behalf of Title IX.

Benita Fitzgerald Mosely

AFH Board Member

Benita Fitzgerald Mosley is a 15-time All-American, four (4) NCAA titles holder, the first American woman to win gold in the 100-meter hurdles at the 1984 Olympic Games, and also a Gold Medal recipient at the Pan-American Games.

Since turning her focus to sports marketing and administration in the 1990s, Benita served in leadership roles at the Special Olympics, Olympic Games, Women’s Sports Foundation, Women in Cable and Telecommunications, USA Track and Field and the United States Olympic and Paralympic Committee.  In 2016, Benita left the USOC and became the CEO of the Laureus Sport for Good Foundation USA, where she was responsible for advancing the Laureus mission to change the lives of youth and strengthen communities through the power of sport. She is the current Chief Executive Officer at Multiplying Good, a nonprofit organization that helps people discover their ability to bring about positive change, deliver the skills they need to do it well, and, by validating their impact, inspire them to do more. 

Rachel Godino

AFH Board Member

Rachel Godino competed in the 1992 Olympics in Ice Dancing. In 2000, She was elected by her peers as the Chair of the US Olympic Committee (USOC) Athletes’ Advisory Council. Gidno has also served on the USOC Executive Committee, USOC Board of Directors and Salt Lake Olympic Organizing Committee Board of Trustees. In 2003, Rachel testified in front of the U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation, and the House of Representatives Committee on Energy and Commerce regarding the state of the Olympic movement and governance.

Rachel currently serves on the Sports Advisory Board for the Palm Beach North Athletic Foundation, a non-profit organization that is committed to forging strategic partnerships with individuals, businesses, and nonprofit organizations to further their vision and philosophy of “recreation for all.” Their inclusion of non-traditional sports creates new pathways for college scholarships by building skills in sports that can open doors for students that might otherwise be closed.

From the vision and mission set forth by our AFH Founding Athletes over 17 years ago, Athletes for Hope is committed to creating a more equitable and just future for all, both in and out of sport.

AFH Athlete Spotlight

Posted: Updated: by Hannah Bronkema

St. Lucia Rugby Player Creates Change Through Coaching

Born in Castries, St.Lucia, Makeba Alcide is a professional dual-sport athlete who is passionate about giving back to her community in any way that she can. The former track and field athlete turned rugby player is busy coaching a new generation of St. Lucia athletes whose main focus is on giving back.

Alcide started her athletic journey at a very young age, falling in love with track & field in her early years.

“I fell in love with sports when I got the opportunity to race for the first time when I was 11 years old. It was the nerves, the thrill of not knowing what to expect, the hype of doing it for the first time and putting all that I had practiced into the race. The moment I got on the start line for my first ever race I fell in love and never turned back.”

During her time in track & field, Alcide competed as an indoor pentathlete and outdoor heptathlete. Among all of the events that she competed in, the high jump was her favorite. Before hanging up her spikes in 2018, Alcide had won both the South-Eastern Conference Indoor and Outdoor titles, broke the NCAA Indoor Penthalon record, and came second overall at the 2007 CARIFTA Games in St. Lucia.

Her time as a track & field athlete not only created history for St.Lucia and the Organization of Caribbean States (OECS), but it also introduced her to her very first coach who would change the trajectory of Alcide’s philanthropic journey.

Alcide credits her first coach as the reason she gives back to her community so heavily, noting that if her coach hadn’t volunteered his time to coach her, life would have been different than it is now. For Alcide, sports have transformed her life.

“Sports changed my life and I give back with the hope that I can continue to change lives. I think that athletes have a huge role to play in using their platform to not only advocate but to give back. I realized this fairly young because I am from a small island so not many of us get out, so to be able to create impact not only on the field but off the field is super important to me.”

In 2020 Alcide began a new athletic journey, this time with the sport of rugby. After being asked to check out some beach rugby workouts, Alcide found herself at the Renegades Rugby Club in St.Lucia where she participated in small local tournaments. Shortly after in 2022, Alcide was named to the St. Lucia National Team for the 2022 RAN Super 7s Tournament where she would have participated in her very first international competition had it not been postponed.

Today, Alcide continues to play rugby and has stepped into a new role as a volunteer coach to local track and field athletes in St. Lucia. As a coach, Alcide is able to work with young kids from at risk communities in St.Lucia, providing them with the tools they need to compete as athletes and the opportunity to give back through volunteer work.

“We don’t only do sports. The aim is to create holistic individuals by providing these young athletes with opportunities to give back to the community through volunteer work with the elderly or for example our yearly Christmas Hamper drive where we give to those less fortunate in the community where we train.”

A favorite community project of Alcide’s is the yearly Christmas Hamper Drive. Even though the drive is a newer community service project it brings together young athletes outside of their sport and gives them an opportunity to grow as a team, understand the value of civic duty and impact lives all at the same time.

For athletes who may be just starting their philanthropic journey or who need encouragement taking the first step, Alcide has this message to share:

“Just do it. It honestly doesnt have to be a huge, big, extravagant thing. No matter how small of an impact you can create do it. No act of kindness is too small for the person receiving it.”

Athletes in Action

Posted: Updated: by Hannah Bronkema

AFH University February 2024 Roundup

Developed in 2013, our AFH University program helps college athletes explore leadership, life skill development, advocacy, their role in the community, and how to discover their philanthropic passions. 

While February came and went in a flash, our student-athletes dedicated as much time as possible to giving back to their communities in meaningful ways.

Athletes from Davidson College, Southern University, Bowie State, Georgetown, and LSU engaged in Valentine’s Day card making, various panel discussions, celebrating Black History Month and more!

Davidson College

Continuing The Mission

The women of the Davidson field hockey team spent time at Continuing the Mission, a comprehensive assistance for veterans that provides assistance dogs and support. 

Since 2023, the team has been volunteering at Continuing the Mission where they take the dogs out, play with them, and help them socialize before they get adopted out to the veterans.

Mental Health U

During Black History Month, AFH University student-athletes from Davidson College and Southern University took part in the launch of AFH’s brand new AFH University panel series titled Mental Health U.

In Episode 1: Black History Month, the student-athletes discussed the importance of speaking out about mental health and breaking the stigma of mental health in the black community.

Hear about the mental health resources the student-athletes use on and off campus, the importance of having people you can talk to, how the stigma of mental health is changing, and more here.

Southern University

Valentine’s Day Project

This year for Valentine’s Day, student-athletes at Southern University helped spread the love as they hosted a card-making station where others could come and create cards for patients at Our Lady of the Lake Children’s Hospital.

Once completed, the cards were hand-delivered to the hospital in time for Valentine’s Day where they were given to patients.

Black History Month Essay Contest

This year AFH partnered with the athletic departments at Southern University and Bowie State for our Black History Month Essay Contest. The contest asked high schoolers in their communities to share a story of an African American who has been an inspiration to them.

The winners from each community captured the power of perseverance and dedication in their essays. You can read both of the winning essays and learn more about this year’s winners here.

Bowie State

CHAMPS Program

In September 2023 Athletes for Hope revamped its AFH Fit and H.E.A.R.T. Curriculum to create the CHAMPS Program. CHAMPS brings athletes to underserved elementary school classrooms to teach them invaluable mental health and leadership skills alongside physical activity exercises. 

This February student-athletes from Bowie State SAAC visited Perrywood Elementary School to put on a CHAMPS session with the children at the school. CHAMPS participants were taken through workouts, a mental health Mindfulness activity and more!

CIAA Panel Series

Members of Bowie State SAAC had the pleasure of visiting the Under Armour Headquarters where they participated in a series of panel discussions with Deloitte CEO of Consulting Dan Helfrich where they discussed a day in the life of a student-athlete with high school students.

Photos Courtesy of Deloitte

The panelists kept the conversation light while providing insight on barriers to access of sport, adjusting to collegiate athletic life, how sports prepare you for professional work life, and more!

Georgetown

Night to Shine

Over 40 Georgetown student-athletes attended a Night to Shine in Washington DC. Night to Shine is a prom night experience for individuals 14 and older who have special needs and is sponsored by the Tim Tebow Foundation.

Louisiana State University (LSU)

Black History Month Movie

February is a time when AFH University student-athletes come together to celebrate, honor, and preserve Back history.

This year during Black History Month, student-athletes at LSU hosted a movie night for their campus that honored black movie directors. Eventgoers enjoyed a myriad of movies and sparked up conversations about the contributions of the Black community to film and television.

Spring is just around the corner for our student-athletes and we cannot wait to see how they will positively impact their communities!

AFH University Service Recognition

Posted: Updated: by Hannah Bronkema

January 2024 | Student-Athlete & Team of the Month

Each month we ask our AFH University campus liaisons for nominations of student-athletes and teams who excelled in service. Through our monthly nominations, we can acknowledge all of the good our student-athletes and teams are doing in their communities.

During January, our Student-Athlete and Team of the Month award winners brought together members of their communities for great causes.

January Student-Athlete of the Month

Ashanti Tianna Turner

Our January Student-Athlete of the Month is Ashanti Tianna Turner from Bowie State Track & Field. Ashanti was nominated by her peers because of her incredible work connecting teams to service on the 2024 MLK Day of Service.

“Ashanti helped plan and execute getting volunteers for a Martin Luther King Day event on Bowie State’s campus.  As SAAC President, Ashanti rallied student-athletes from various teams on campus to work in conjunction with the Nutrition Lounge (BSU food pantry) and RISE Against Hunger to package up 20,000 meals for MLK Day of Service.“

Aside from her MLK Day contributions, the senior sprinter is not new to service. She is actively involved in Bowie State’s R.A.K.E.(Random Acts of Kindness Everywhere) campus initiative which aims to spread positivity and spark continuous moments of joy for peers.

Over the summer, Ashanti participated in the 2023 Black Student-Athlete Summit, a four-day conference comprised of student-athletes, professionals, and influencers in athletics who discussed key topics that impact Black student-athletes.

During the summit she was able to discuss important topics such as Black student-athlete mental health, transitioning out of sports and Black athlete performance and success in life.

Ashanti is thrilled to be named January’s Student-Athlete of the Month and is excited to continue to propel her teammates and classmates toward service.

January Team of the Month

Clark Atlanta Women’s Basketball

The January Team of the Month is the Clark Atlanta women’s basketball team. The team was nominated by their peers for hosting a “day in the life” for children at the Harland Boys and Girls Club.

“The Clark Atlanta Women’s Basketball team hosted 15 children from the Harland Boys and Girls Club along with three chaperones and gave them a “day in the life” experience. Women’s Basketball along with the Spirit Booster Club showed the kids what a day in the life of a CAU student-athlete is like.

The kids from the club were able to spend time with the student-athletes and get to know them and ask questions about what being a collegiate athlete is like. They also spent the game with the Spirit Boosters who showed them different cheers and encouraged them to engage with fans and have fun!”

The Clark Atlanta Women’s Basketball team has historically been heavily involved in service throughout the Atlanta community, with several players helping to initiate team service projects. The Lady Panthers have participated in breast cancer research walks, read to local elementary school students, volunteered at community basketball court unveilings and more.

Aside from community service, the Lady Panthers are passionate about using their voices to make a difference. Several team members have participated in AFH University panels and Black History Month panels where they share their thoughts on topics surrounding student-athlete mental health and the Black student-athlete experience.

The Lady Panthers are excited to receive this award and recognition from their peers as they get ready for more community service this spring.

AFH News

Posted: Updated: by Hannah Bronkema

Athletes for Hope Empowerment Workshop: Empowering Senior Bowl Players to Make a Difference

For the eighth consecutive year, Athletes for Hope (AFH) facilitated our Empowerment Workshop with the 2024 Senior Bowl players in Mobile, Alabama, fostering a spirit of community engagement and social responsibility among the athletes. The workshop once again served as a catalyst for aspiring NFL stars to recognize their potential to make a positive impact beyond the football field.

Senior Bowl attendees stand on the field with an LED sign in the background that says "The draft starts in Mobile."

After a long week of practice and meetings with NFL coaching staff, the Friday morning of Senior Bowl week is always dedicated to community service. Kicking off the day, the Empowerment Workshop is designed to help Senior Bowl players understand the significance of their roles within their communities.

Through interactive sessions and discussions, the athletes are empowered to leverage their platforms for the greater good, recognizing the influence they hold and the responsibility that comes with it. This year’s group showcased exceptional dedication and enthusiasm throughout the session, demonstrating a genuine commitment to making a positive impact in their communities.

Duke University defensive tackle DeWayne Carter provided insight on how athletes should give back through community service.

If you‘re actually working with people in the communities, I think that‘s where the real impact is at because you care about the work that you do.”

DeWayne Carter, Duke University

Thanks to the leadership of the Senior Bowl, following the workshop, the players embark on a morning of community service activities, putting theory into practice as they roll up their sleeves and actively contribute to the Mobile community. This year, opportunities included school visits, food distribution, and visiting with sick children, among others. 

Senior Bowl players listening to AFH's Empowerment Workshop.

The bowl’s Executive Director Jim Nagy celebrated their yearly community service efforts and attributed the many NFL players that have come from Mobile, AL to the Senior Bowl players inspiring children in the community.

Jim Nagy giving Senior bowl players encouragement before they leave for their community service projects.

When you show up at their school, the hospital, wherever they’re at, they see you and then [the NFL becomes] a dream for them. You guys are going to give all of these kids hope today.

Jim Nagy, Executive Director, Reese’s Senior bowl

What sets AFH’s Empowerment Workshop with the Senior Bowl apart each year is its long-term impact. Beyond Community Service Day, AFH continues to work closely with these athletes, providing ongoing support and guidance as they navigate their professional careers.

Through personalized support and resources, AFH helps them develop and execute community outreach initiatives, leveraging their influence and resources to address pressing social issues.

A Senior Bowl player holds a microphone as he answers an Empowerment Workshop question.

Stay tuned for more from this year’s Senior Bowl class as they take time to give back while they prepare for the biggest milestone of their career thus far: the NFL Draft! 

AFH University Service Recognition

Posted: Updated: by Hannah Bronkema

November & December 2023 | Student-Athlete & Team of the Month

Each month we ask our AFH University campus liaisons for nominations of student-athletes and teams who excelled in service. Through our monthly nominations, we can acknowledge all of the good our student-athletes and teams are doing in their communities.

During November and December, our Student-Athlete and Team of the Month award winners challenged the status quo on what it means to serve as they created service projects and opportunities in their community.

November Award Winners

November Student-Athlete of the Month

Our November Student-Athlete of the Month is Eliza Buerk from Davidson women’s basketball. Eliza personally reached out to the AFH University team to plan an event with Dream on 3 and the Davidson women’s basketball team.

“Eliza has spearheaded the planning and preparation for this experience which took place on December 8 at their game against High Point. The team hosted families, showed them around the arena, and honored them at halftime. Eliza was at the center of the planning and this could not have been put together without her hard work and passion.”

November Team of the Month

The November Team of the Month is the Southern bowling team. Together, Southern bowling has been a force, not only on the lanes but in the community.

“Southern bowling kicked off their season prioritizing service, playing a huge role in the 2023 AFH Baton Rouge Serves initiative and 9/11 Day of Service events. The team participated in food sorting at the BR Food Bank, enjoyed a school visit with Louisiana Key Academy, and an Our Lady of the Lake Children’s Hospital Visit.”

December Award Winners

December Student-Athlete of the Month

Our December Student-Athlete of the Month is Zion Walters from Clark Atlanta women’s basketball. Zion has participated in service opportunities every month throughout the entire fall 2023 semester, even asking to be connected to service opportunities while she was at home during the holiday season.

“For the entire first semester of the school year Zion has been attending the Harland Boys and Girls Club weekly to hang out with the kids. In December, Zion worked tirelessly to help the kids choreograph a dance to perform at their Holiday Party. She worked with the kids for over a month to get the dance perfect to perform in front of all of the staff, kids, and families at the club.”

December Team of the Month

The December Team of the Month is the Davidson women’s basketball team. During December, the Davidson women’s basketball team hosted Dream on 3 for a fun “Dreamers Day” during their game against High Point.

“The women on the Davidson women’s basketball team spent the day hosting children and their families who are living with life-altering conditions. Not only did the kids get to spend time with the team, but they received swag from Davidson College along with being honored at half-time in front of all of the fans and players at the arena. After the game, the kids and their families were able to get autographs and pictures with all of the players.”

As we look forward to another semester of AFH University, we couldn’t be more proud of all of our student-athletes and teams for the work they are doing in their communities each day!