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AFH University Service Recognition

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AFH University Service Recognition

Posted: Updated: by Hannah Bronkema

October 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 are able to acknowledge all of the good our student-athletes and teams are doing in their communities.

During the month of October, our Student-Athlete and Team of the Month challenged the status quo on what it means to serve as they created a holistic community with their peers and engaged in regular service in their North Carolina community.

Student-Athlete of the Month

Our October Student-Athlete of the Month is Erin Junkmann from Georgetown University. Erin is a community builder across the Georgetown campus, connecting others with mental health resources and creating other holistic ways to engage with peers.

“Erin has worked to connect the Georgetown female student-athletes in her role as president of the SAAC with opportunities to speak about mental health and connect with the brand SPRHA to unpack the shared aspects of the female student-athlete experience that impact performance, such as uniforms impacting the way we feel and care about our bodies thus limiting the way we play.

Erin has done a tremendous job creating a community and opportunities to connect with one another in a meaningful way, promoting our holistic well-being. Erin is also someone who consistently shows up to every athletic game she can watch on campus and unconditionally cheers on her fellow Hoyas.“

Team of the Month

The October Team of the Month is the Davidson field hockey team. Together the team has positively impacted their community in North Carolina through regular visits to Continuing the Mission.

“For the past three weeks, Davidson Field Hockey has been regularly visiting Continuing the Mission, an organization that trains dogs for veterans. They have been going 3-4 times a week to help with the animals and spend time training and playing with the puppies.

Their consistent service with the organization has been a tremendous help by exposing the dogs to different scenarios and aspects of life so that they make great partners to the veterans they will be adopted to.”

We are so proud of all of our AFH University campuses for the work they are doing to better their own communities each day!

Athletes & Philanthropy 101

Posted: Updated: by Hannah Bronkema

Four Tips for Student-Athletes To Start Giving Back

As the 2023 fall semester approaches, student-athletes from across the country are heading back to their college campuses and are wondering how they can get involved in charitable work for their community. Athletes for Hope is here to help you get started, set goals, and support you through this semester and beyond! All athletes, no matter what level, can lead from where they are and make a difference in their community- and no, you don’t need to be verified on social media to make an impact.

Here are four tips to help you give back this semester:

Join Your Schools SAAC

A student-athlete advisory committee (SAAC) is a committee made up of student-athletes assembled to provide insight into the student-athlete experience. Currently, there are separate national SAACs for NCAA Divisions I, II, and III, alongside SAACs on individual campuses.

While the SAAC helps to generate a student-athlete voice within the institution and on a national level, it also supports the campus and conference community through community outreach efforts.

Examples of SAAC community events include:

  • Toy Drives
  • Team Visits to Childrens Hospitals
  • Special Olympic Events
  • Team Visits to Schools

Donate Your Time

The most valuable thing you can give as a student-athlete is your time. Throughout the school year, there are countless organizations in your community that need volunteers. Whether you volunteer your time at a local nonprofit or charity, walking a dog who has been placed in a shelter, writing a note to a child in the hospital, or cleaning up after an event at a senior center, any time spent positively impacting your community makes a lasting impact.

Use Your Platform For Good

In the new age of digital media, your platform as an athlete has the ability to change the world. Remember when we mentioned that you didn’t need to be verified to make a difference? We meant it! Student-athletes from all conferences and divisions are using their social media to become game changers.

Things that may seem small such as resharing a post, tagging an organization on social, or engaging with an organization’s post goes a long way in terms of visibility and advocacy.

Get Involved With Athletes for Hope

Athletes for Hope created the AFH University program to provide guidance to student-athletes on how to be effective volunteers as they learn what community causes they may align with.

AFH University provides student-athletes the opportunity to:

  1. Engage in meaningful, impactful community service
  2. Experience the benefits of engaging in student leadership and student self-governance
  3. Collaborate with student-athletes from other sports
  4. Increase their involvement with the rest of the University community and the local community

If you are a student-athlete or collegiate team wanting to get involved in community service during the 2023 fall semester, please contact AFH University Assistant Director, Sara Keane, at skeane@athletesforhope.org.

We would love to help connect you to service opportunities in your area!

AFH Community Hero

Posted: Updated: by Hannah Bronkema

Serving Her Community Selflessly

As Clark Atlanta student-athlete Zion Walters left school and arrived at the Boys and Girls Club in her Arizona hometown, she sprinted over to the Xbox Connect to try and get in on the XX game. Becoming a mentor, a teacher, and a friend to kids of all ages and walks of life was something Zion had envisioned for herself from a young age. It is for these reasons and more that she is Athletes for Hope’s August Community Hero of the Month. 

Walters was a passionate child, so when she saw all of the older kids in her way, she dreamed of one day being able to play all the games she wanted after school. As the art and gym rooms transformed into the collegiate classrooms and basketball stadiums that she plays in today, she never forgot where she came from, and the dreams she once had. 

Zion Walters teaching a dance clinic at the Boys and Girls Club.

“When I was in the club, I never had anybody to do the things I wanted to do with,” Walters said. “You had the sports and the football and the gaming, but I was like ‘I just want to dance.’ There are kids that want to do what you have to offer, but nobody is coming to help them.”

Some of Walters’ main passions in life are dance, basketball, and giving back. During the course of the past few months, she has combined these passions into an opportunity for her dreams to become a reality. 

Children at the Boys and Girls Clubs of Metro Atlanta have had the opportunity to participate in dance and basketball clinics, an opportunity Walters was not afforded. 

“Just seeing the smile on their faces and seeing how excited they were when I came in,” Walters said. “Seeing how much they practiced when I wasn’t around, their excitement made me want to keep doing it.”

The Clark Atlanta University basketball player has worked alongside Athletes for Hope to make a difference week in and week out. Despite a busy schedule that includes practices, games, rehab, study sessions, and classes, Walters always seems to find a way to hold clinics for the Boys and Girls Club. 

Zion Walters teaching a basketball clinic at the Boys & Girls Club.

Walters had a vision for how she can better the area around her, and is doing everything in her power to help shape the future generations of Atlanta. 

It is not for the recognition, either. She works without a spotlight on her actions, yet continues to transform the dreams of the children she helps. 

“When I went to Arizona, after three days this little girl came up to me and she’s like ‘Hey, I just wanted to let you know your classes are so much fun. I’m usually sad throughout the day, but when you come I’m genuinely happy and I have so much fun,’” Walters said. 

Zion Walters poses with dance clinic participants at the Boys & Girls Club.

Moments like these keep Walters coming back in her free time and provide a reason for her fellow athletes to support their community as well. Whether it’s the cause or the area, Walters is living proof that an athlete can use their platform for so much more than sport. 

With time and effort, it can change lives. 

“We are, in a sense, role models for a lot of people,” Walters said. “If you have people consistently watching you, why not show them what they can do in the community? As an athlete, I know I have a lot of younger people watching me and I want to tell them that doing community service is great.”

AFH University Service Recognition

Posted: Updated: by jbelinkie

April 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 are able to acknowledge all of the good our student-athletes and teams are doing in their communities.

Student-Athlete of the Month

Our April Student-Athlete of the Month is Zion Walters from Clark Atlanta University. Zion is a leader in service on her team with a passion for kids. She is always eager to be involved in service projects in the Atlanta community and will often help find new opportunities for her and her teammates.

“Zion has been going into the Harland Boys and Girls Club twice a week for the last couple of weeks and will be doing so until the school year ends in May. Every Monday she puts on a dance clinic for the group and every Wednesday she puts on a basketball clinic for the kids.

She has been incredibly proactive about finding volunteer opportunities in the Atlanta community and is incredibly passionate about spreading her love of basketball and dance to the children at the club.”

Team of the Month

The April Team of the Month is none other than the Davidson football team. Together the team has positively impacted their community in North Carolina through dedicated weekly service visits and fundraising efforts.

“The Davidson Football team has been hard at work on the field and in the community. They have been active weekly volunteers at the Ada Jenkins Center, playing with the children after school and keeping them company.

On April 21st they had their annual Lift for Life event where they raise money and awareness for rare disease research. It is an event that the entire team participates in and they have so far raised over $9,000.”

We are so proud of all of our student-athletes who continue to go above and beyond the call of service in their communities.

Putt For Passion

Athletes for Hope Putt for Passion Golf Tournament logo

Athletes for Hope’s first annual golf tournament is an afternoon to celebrate, recognize and appreciate the power of the athletic spirit in making the world a better place through community service and advocacy.
We invite you to join us in person to support our organization’s efforts to educate, inspire and connect athletes to underserved communities throughout the U.S. and beyond.

AFH University Service Recognition

Posted: Updated: by jbelinkie

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 are able to acknowledge all of the good our student-athletes and teams are doing in their communities.

“I’d just like to put it out there that I just witnessed the most amazing bowling tournament ever. Every person I worked with could beat me in a bowling game if I tried to play them. It was a fun and heartwarming experience and I’d love to do it again.” – Joshua Griffin, Southern Football

Joshua Griffin, Southern Football

Student-Athlete of the Month

Our March Student-Athlete of the Month is Joshua Griffin from Southern University. Joshua is a leader in service on his team and in the community. He is always eager to be involved in service projects in any capacity he can, often being one of the first to volunteer when an opportunity arises.

“Joshua Griffin is a sports philanthropy certificate program participant that hit the ground running with service. In our first session, he was engaged and excited to share his passion for youth and the community.

Just this month, he read books to classes for Read Across America Day and volunteered for the Special Olympics State Bowling Tournament.”

Team of the Month

The March Team of the Month was none other than the LSU volleyball team. Together the team is making a positive impact in their community through service projects with local organizations.

“LSU Volleyball volunteered at St. Vincent de Paul Thrift Store sorting through and organizing donated items which enhanced the processing and ultimate sale of donated items.

St. Vincent de Paul thrift store is a place where customers can purchase items at bargain prices and all revenues generated are put back into programs supporting those in need.”

We are so proud of all of our student-athletes and teams who continue to go above and beyond the call of service in their communities.