About
Athletes for Hope’s High School Leadership Academy (HSLA) was created when we saw the need to expand our athlete network to include high school student-athletes. Through HSLA, we will offer a series of educational sessions and service opportunities designed to empower high school athletes to create their own philanthropic vision and lead the charge in making a difference in their communities.
Overview
The Academy is a no-cost cohort designed for 15-20 high school athletes based in the Washington, DC area who are interested in the intersection of sports and giving back to the community. We will be highly selective of candidates who are passionate about this topic and apply.
The Academy will be conducted during the Spring semester (January – May 2024). Athletes for Hope will offer monthly virtual educational sessions and two in-person service opportunities for the athletes to volunteer with local community partners. The educational sessions are hosted on Zoom featuring Athletes for Hope staff, professional athletes, and local non-profit industry professionals. The educational sessions and service opportunities are designed to equip athletes with the tools to create their own Philanthropic Game Plan, which will be presented during the virtual graduation ceremony in May. We encourage all athletes to implement their Philanthropic Game Plan in the Summer or Fall of 2024.
Following participation in the AFH High School Program, graduates are invited to future AFH events to share their volunteer experiences and build community with future cohorts.
Program Goals
- Building the future leaders of tomorrow
- Increase education about sports philanthropy and advocacy
- Opportunity to learn from professional athletes and industry professionals
- Expand opportunities for local service community service events
- Equip high school athletes with the tools to take action on causes they are passionate about
Program Timeline
- January 2024: Virtual Session (45 min) – Welcome, Ice Breaker, AFH introduction and overview of the Academy, Philanthropic Identity Exercise
- February 2024: Virtual Session (45 min) – Ice Breaker, Hope Exercise, Guest Speaker (Local Community Partner) & Service Opportunity #1 – Volunteer with Leveling the Playing Field at a sports equipment distribution event.
- March 2024: Virtual Session (45 min) – Ice Breaker, Giving Back Exercise, Impact Exercise, Guest Speaker (Professional Athlete)
- April 2024: Virtual Session (45 min) – Ice Breaker, Advocacy Discussion, Guest Speaker (Local Community Partner) & Service Opportunity #2 – Volunteer with KEEN DC by facilitating sport activities for children with special needs.
- May 2024: Mental Health Awareness Month Activation & Virtual Graduation (1.5 hours) – Celebration & Philanthropic Game Plan Presentation
Applications
The AFH High School Academy is no longer accepting applications.