Three years ago, former professional basketball player Awvee Storey came to us with an idea to help the kids in an underserved area in DC. He knew that there were very few options for after school activities at a local school and he wanted to change that. The Power Up Program was born.
Filling the Void:
Awvee and Athletes for Hope worked with a local KIPP school to create the Power Up DC program. Kids come every month to this structured physical activity program. Awvee and a special guest from the Washington Wizards or Mystics come every month to help lead the activities. Every month, Awvee and a special guest from the Washington Wizards or Mystics lead students in our structured physical activity program.
Not only has Awvee helped fill the void for after school programming, but we have been able to prove with the data we have collected that the program is positively impacting the kids. The program is down to a science and now we are expanding the program to other schools.
Expansion:
This year, we’ve expanded our Power Up program to new cities and schools. In addition to the original KIPP D.C. location, we have partnered with the Monumental Sports Foundation to bring the program to Hendley Elementary in D.C. as well. Awvee will continue to participate in both of the D.C. locations monthly. We are also excited to announce that our newest Power Up program was launched in Houston, Texas and led by professional softball player Nerissa Myers.
Nerissa will follow Awvee’s lead and bring in guests for the monthly school activities. As a member of the Scrapyard Dawgs, Nerissa will be able to encourage her teammates to volunteer for the program. We can’t wait to see the great things Nerissa and her teammates will do in Houston.
The Future:
One of the best things about the Power Up Program is that it offers athletes like Awvee and Nerissa a solid way to build real relationships in their communities over time. We see our athletes expanding Power Up all over the United States. If you are interested in learning more about how Awvee and Nerissa are making a difference and how you can do the same, please contact our team. We will work with you to see if the Power Up Program is a good fit for your time commitment and your overall philanthropic goals.
