afh university Archives - Page 3 of 6

Community Partner Highlight

Posted: November 28, 2022 Updated: November 28, 2022 by jbelinkie

Miracle Moments at Cyprus Mounds

As we built new relationships with local nonprofits in Baton Rouge, one stood out as a student-athlete favorite – The Miracle League. For those unfamiliar, The Miracle League gives children with any type of disability the opportunity to play the game of baseball.

Since 2016, Athletes for Hope student-athletes have looked forward to Tuesday and Thursday evenings at Cypress Mounds.

This is a great opportunity to give back to the culture around us and we enjoy every second of it.
Gavin Dugas, LSU Baseball

Our involvement has not only brought joy to the young Miracle League athletes but to LSU and Southern University student-athletes as well. Serving as buddies, protecting players during the game, and cheering them on has been a rewarding experience while contributing to a positive environment for all participants. Our 2019 & 2022 AFH Partner of the Year participant stated, “It’s been unbelievable. The Miracle League players love it when athletes come out to join them.”- Charlene Lauman, Miracle League- Volunteer Coordinator for the 2022 fall season.

Everyone should go watch or volunteer at the Miracle League! It’s truly a blast to be out there with those kids because all they want to do is have fun! That’s what the game is all about. Each and every single one of them puts a smile on my face. I’m already looking forward to my next game because they are so much fun!
McKenzie Odgen, Southern University Softball.

AFH Baton Rouge teams made weekly visits to their friends over at Cypress Mounds- never missing a game during the entirety of the fall 2022 season. It wasn’t long until their dedication and commitment to their community started getting noticed on a larger scale. Local news station WBRZ made a trip out to Cypress Mounds to watch our student-athletes from LSU in action.

Following LSU Baseball’s visit in October, they posted to their social media platforms “Thank you to the Miracle League at Cypress Mounds for having us and we can’t wait to see y’all at Alex Box this season!”

We are looking forward to returning for the spring season to support our buddies at The Miracle League.

Community Partner Highlight

Posted: July 29, 2022 Updated: July 29, 2022 by kReeves

Bread for the City & Howard University Athletics

Our work would not be possible without the relentless dedication to service and communities of our athlete network and community partners. Since launching AFH University at Howard University in late 2020, Bread for the City has continuously been an outstanding organization for student-athletes to connect with and give back to the D.C. community. Learn more by reading the below Q&A with Bread for the City Volunteer Engagement Manager, Constance Lee.

A group of howard university student-athletes stand in front of a bread for the city sign (inside). — Howard Soccer at their first volunteer visit at Bread for the City.

Tell us what the student-athletes did while volunteering with Bread for the City.

The Howard University student athletes were amazing groups to work with. In support of Bread for the City’s Food Delivery Program, which was initiated when the pandemic started in March 2020 to directly deliver healthy and nutritious food items to community members of Washington, DC, the student athletes helped pack thousands of canned goods and fresh produce to support this effort. In addition to this, the student athletes also supported a couple of our free community farmers markets by distributing seasonal vegetables and fruits to our neighbors.

Please describe the impact that the AFH U student-athletes had on Bread for the City.

In November 2021, Bread for the City hosted our very first Howard University Week. Members from the Howard University Women’s Soccer Team, Football Team, and Swim and Dive Team joined efforts to serve in both the Michelle Obama Southeast Center of Bread for the City and our Northwest Center.

Howard University student athletes pose in front of the Bread for the City facility. — Howard Football and AFH U Howard Liaison, Alayah Hightower, at their Bread for the City service event.

How did Bread for the City benefit by having AFH U student athletes volunteer?

Since we rely heavily on volunteers’ support to pack and send out 500-1,000 food bags directly to our consumers’ homes, the student athletes have been a dependable group for an operation on this scale.

A Howard University student-athlete packs a grocery bag at the Bread for the City facility. Other student athletes stand behind her and there are boxes stacked on the ground.

A Howard University football player stands in a hallway while putting items in a grocery bag.

Athletes in Action

Posted: April 29, 2022 Updated: April 29, 2022 by kReeves

April 2022 AFH University Recap!

As we approach the end of the school year, class schedules may be slowing down but AFH University service projects are as strong as ever. Take a look at some of the highlights below to see what AFH U student-athletes have been up to over the past month!

In Baton Rouge, LSU Volleyball served at a booth at the Baton Rouge Zippity Zoo Festival community event while LSU Athletics as a whole hosted a field day for middle schoolers at LA Key Academy. Student-athletes from Beach Volleyball, Gymnastics, Indoor Volleyball, Cross Country ran different stations and interacted directly with the students.

college athletes post with two children outside

“Getting to engage with the middle schoolers was so rewarding. You could tell they felt seen and for me, they helped bring laughter and fun to the whole field day.”
Ellie Shank, LSU Beach Volleyball

As part of their student-athlete week at Southern University, AFH U partnered with NAMI Louisiana to host a mental health awareness event. NAMI Louisiana director, Lashonda Williams, J.D. lead a discussion around stress management and the importance of whole athlete wellness, Nicole Wesley of Pennington shared an opportunity for female athletes to participate in a psychological resilience study, followed by a yoga session facilitated by former student athlete, Maya Anderson.

In Charlottesville, UVA hosted its first “UNITY Walk” which was was organized by SAAC Vice President and BOSS (Black student-athletes Offering Service and Support) leader Milla Ciprian. Working with groundskeepers, she says that the goal of the walk was to “educate our peers on the historical and lingering effects of the impact of structural racism from the perspective of Charlottesville community members.” In turn, this walk helped connect student-athletes at UVA with the Charlottesville community, an important step in improving the relationship between the two.

As citizens who live and work in the city of Charlottesville, there is an opportunity to learn more about the untold history of Charlottesville and its inhabitants. Our intention is to connect and begin creating a relationship with the local community.
Milla Ciprian

a group of UVA students stand in a street

Moving up the east coast to Washington, D.C., Howard Women’s Basketball assisted and cheered for youth with disabilities during a basketball game with athletes from KEEN Greater D.C.

MSU Field Hockey and Football promoted the Be The Match None Marrow Registry around campus by getting students, friends, and family members to sign up for the live saving registry.

“Be The Match is a great event to help educate people on the importance of bone marrow donation saving lives. It’s an event that my team looks forward to hosting every year and we are excited to grow the registry every year.”
Cara Bonshak, MSU Field Hockey

Last but not least, we had a wonderful session, “Creating a Social Justice Mindset” with student-athletes in the AFH U Sports Philanthropy Certificate Program. Track and Field runner Marvellous Iheukwumere spoke with student-athletes about gender and racial equality, sexual assault and chronic disease advocacy.

Join us in congratulating AFH University student-athletes for once again going above and beyond in giving back to their communities!

Athletes in Action

Posted: March 30, 2022 Updated: March 31, 2022 by kReeves

March 2022 AFH University Recap!

Three things are always constant in March at AFH: the weather starts getting warmer, the sun shines a little brighter, and our AFH University student-athletes are constantly giving back!

This year, our March activations mainly focused on disability awareness and inclusion opportunities with kids from all over the country. Our AFH U Baton Rouge campuses:

Began weekly baseball games with Miracle League which will go through May
Hosted a field day with LA Key Academy elementary students
Helped with a house painting project with The Walls Project

AFH U Howard student-athletes also worked with K.E.E.N. Greater DC players at a basketball clinic.

It was just fun being able to play with kids who have nothing but pure joy for the game. It reminded me of how I felt about the game when I was younger, so they truly are an inspiration to remember to be grateful for every moment on the field.
Raquel Latta #14, Southern Softball

Take a look at some of the amazing highlights in the gallery below and join us in celebrating these incredible student-athletes for bringing smiles to so many!

Two Howard football players standing inside a gymnasium posing with a KEEN athlete. A basketball hoop is in the background. — Howard Football players with a KEEN athlete

An LSU beach volleyball player squats behind a Miracle League athlete who is in a wheelchair and smiling. They are on a turf baseball field. — Howard Football players with a KEEN athlete

AFH Athletes in Action

Posted: February 25, 2022 Updated: February 28, 2022 by kReeves

AFH University Baton Rouge

It was a busy month for our student-athletes in Baton Rouge, which isn’t a surprise based on the dedication to service they so often exude.

Fresh off of a win, Southern Softball participated in a beautification project at Belaire High School led by Mayor Sharon Weston Broome. The team reorganized the library by boxing old books and giving the library a more appealing look and feel for students.

“Thank you Southern Softball and Athletes for Hope for serving the city of Baton Rouge!”
Baton Rouge Mayor Sharon Weston Broome

LSU and Southern Soccer facilitated a soccer clinic at LA Key Academy with over 60 elementary school children. Student-athletes led them in various stations teaching them the fundamentals of soccer and playing right alongside each other. It was a wonderful youth initiative and unity event for both campuses.

Southern University Athletics, assisted by Southern Softball player and AFH U Intern Annelise “Ace” Corona, also held a Black History Month essay contest where over 44 high school students submitted pieces highlighting Black History in Baton Rouge.

We are so proud of our AFH University Baton Rouge student-athletes for all of their hard work throughout the month and know they will continue this pattern for the rest of the year!

AFH Athletes in Action

Posted: January 28, 2022 Updated: January 31, 2022 by kReeves

MLK Day of Service 2022

In late 2021, AFH student-athletes had plans set for MLK Day of Service in January of 2022. But when COVID-19 numbers increased with the rapid spread of the Omicron variant, many of these events were cancelled or postponed. Did that stop AFH U student-athletes from finding creative and safe ways to give back? Of course not!

Here are some of the highlights:

The Southern University Women’s Soccer team prepped meals at a local shelter in Baton Rouge
Howard Women’s Soccer and Lacrosse assisted with a facility beautification project and food packing and delivery all over Washington, D.C.
LSU Beach Volleyball, Volleyball, Softball, Soccer and Gymnastics all helped with a beautification project at a local high school in Baton Rouge
Georgetown Field Hockey, Rowing, Softball and Track and Field made over 30 blankets for children experiencing homelessness

…and that was all in just one day!

LSU softball team members cleaning the outside of a high school building — Highlights of AFH U student-athletes giving back to their community on MLK Day 2022.

Georgetown student-athletes sit on the floor of a gym making a blanket by hand. — Highlights of AFH U student-athletes giving back to their community on MLK Day 2022.

Other AFH Athletes took the MLK Day of Service Pledge, committing to use their platforms beyond just January 17th, 2022 while the Howard University Golf Team shared why MLK Day is important and what it means to them:

Featuring Jada Richardson, Kendall Jackson, Richard Jones and Edward Whiten of Howard University Golf.

For so many across the country, “MLK Day” is a day off from work. But for Athletes for Hope and the athletes we work with, it’s a day on. This year was no different even though circumstances were a little more difficult to navigate than normal.

We are so proud of these athletes for carrying on Dr. King’s legacy and we know they will continue to do so throughout the year, and beyond.