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Athletes In Action

Posted: Updated: by jbelinkie

March 2023 AFH University 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.

Each month our AFH University student-athletes are able to make a positive impact in their communities as our campus liasions dilligently pair athletes and teams to causes they care about.

During March, AFH Athletes from Georgetown, Davidson, Southern, and LSU visited schools and children’s hospitals, engaged in community events, and more!

Georgetown University

Georgetown Qatar

Georgetown women’s rowing spent 2 hours answering questions and talking about female leadership in athletics and talking about what it means to be a female student-athlete on campus with women visiting from Georgetown Qatar.

Night To Shine

Georgetown Athletics attended the Night to Shine, a prom night experience for those with special needs. During the event, each student-athlete was paired with a buddy for the duration of the evening. Everyone had a fantastic time spreading kindness all evening!

Davidson University

Ada Jenkins Center

Members of the Davidson football team attended an open gym at the newly remodeled Ada Jenkins Center basketball court. During their visit they were able to play a pickup game with a few kids. Everyone had fun learning new skills together!

Southern University

Our Lady of the Lake Children’s Hospital

Southern Football student-athletes facilitated a game of bingo in the activity room and visited the rooms of game-winners. During this visit, new friendships were made, secret handshakes were shared, and there were lots of smiles all around!

Ryan Elementary

This month, Southern University track & field kicked off Southern Athletics’ biweekly school visits to Ryan Elementary! Student-athletes plan to read books to classes, assist with physical education classes, and support school events at each of their visits.

Today was a great day! Changing lives one book at a time!

Karanay Alexander, Southern Track & Field

Read Across America Day

Student-athletes from Southern football, soccer and baseball visited Buchanan Elementary School for Read Across America Day. They visited multiple classes to read their favorite children’s books to students and received Dr. Suess-inspired certificates of participation on behalf of the school.

Louisiana State University (LSU)

Our Lady of the Lake Children’s Hospital

LSU track & field and beach volleyball continued our biweekly visits to Our Lady of the Lake Children’s Hospital. The student-athletes were able to visit patients’ rooms and shared insight into their student-athlete experience. During their visit they made new friends, shared a lot of laughs, and raised the spirits of patients.

Read Across America Day

Student-athletes from LSU track & field visited Wildwood Elementary for Read Across America Day. During their visit, they were able to read their favorite children’s books to 2nd and 4th grade classrooms and asked kids how they can use reading as their superpower.

Baton Rouge

Special Olympics

LSU Gymnastics, Southern Volleyball, Southern Soccer, and Southern Football volunteered at The Special Olympics State Bowling Tournament. Student-athletes checked in participants, led stretches before the games, served as lane volunteers, and assisted with the awards ceremony.

I’d just like to put it out there that I just witnessed the most amazing bowling tournament ever. It was a fun and heartwarming experience and I’d love to do it again.

Joshua Griffin, Southern Football

Bettering their communities is something all of our AFH Athletes are passionate about. While the month of March is coming to an end, we cannot wait to see the impact they make in April!

Black History Month Essay Contest

Posted: Updated: by jbelinkie

Baton Rouge Godmother Inspires Teen

As Athletes for Hope (AFH) spent February celebrating the contributions and positive impacts of African American trailblazers, we partnered with our AFH University Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU) athletic departments, asking high schoolers in their communities to share a story of an African American that has been an inspiration to them.

The outpouring of submissions from students was incredible. We are honored to share with you the story of the winner of our AFH Black History Month Essay Contest from Scotlandville Magnet High School.

Meet The Winner

The standout winner from the Southern University community was track & field state champion, Madyson.

On March 4, Madyson was recognized for her essay at the Southern University vs. Alabama A&M basketball game. While she was unable to attend due to a track meet, she was visited by AFH Program Manager, Kenya warren-Hollins, who congratulated her and awarded her with a Southern University swag pack, school supplies, and more!

Read Her Essay

Madyson

Black History Month Essay Topic: Shirley Clayton

Madyson’s essay was a beautiful tribute to her godmother, Shirley Clayton. An ExxonMobil chemist and Southern University alumni, Clayton continues to give back to the Baton Rouge community any chance she can.

She’s always willing to offer help to anyone in need and do anything even if it is small or big. As I continue blossoming into a woman I aspire to be just like my Godmother.

Madyson

To read Madyson’s Black History Month Essay, click here.

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 really enjoyed being able to help the kids have fun for a small part of their day. I hope it brightened their day as much as it did mine.

Doria Martingayle, LSU Track & Field

Student-Athlete of the Month

Our February student-athlete of the month is Doria Martingayle from LSU. She continues to serve her community through monthly visits to Our Lady Of The Lake Children’s Hospital and encourages her teammates to join her.

“Doria visited OLOL Children’s Hospital to encourage patients and bring a little normalcy through games in the activity room.”

Team of the Month

The February team of the month was none other than Southern University’s bowling team. The SWAC champions hosted a 2-hour clinic where they encouraged senior citizens in the Baton Rouge community to get active through bowling!

“Southern University Women’s Bowling team hosted senior citizens from the Charles R. Kelly Community Center. The SWAC champs shared their tricks and how bowling is a great way to stay physically active.”

We are so proud of all of our student-athletes and teams who continue to help better their communities through service.

AFH University Service Recognition

Posted: Updated: by jbelinkie

January 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.

Seeing the smiles on everyone’s faces made us appreciate the opportunity that we had as kids and being able to take advantage of that [opportunity] to put us in the position to be influential to others is a blessing.

Jerry Burkett II, Southern Baseball

Student-Athlete of the Month

Our January student-athlete of the month is Jerry Burkett II from Southern University. He has been an integral part of service for his baseball team and continues to be a leader both on and off the field.

“Jerry Burkett II is a leader on the campus of Southern University and a leader in service for his team. Jerry has participated in all service events with his team while also capturing content. Last November, he assisted with meal prep for St.Vincent de Paul’s annual Thanksgiving dinner. He also serves on this year’s Student-Athlete Advisory Committee for Southern.”

Team of the Month

The January team of the month was none other than Howard University’s women’s lacrosse team. On Martin Luther King Day, the team spent countless hours handing out clothes and food to the city of D.C.’s most vulnerable through community partner So What Else.

“The Women’s Lacrosse Team should be recognized for January because of their MLK Day of Service with So What Else’s Meal and Clothing Distribution. The distribution was kind of slow due to no one coming to get food or clothing so I got the girls to mobilize the sandwiches around the city to anyone who may have been in need of a meal.”

We are so proud of all of our student-athletes and teams as they continue to selflessly give back to their communities.

Athletes In Action

Posted: Updated: by jbelinkie

Honoring The Legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

On the third Monday of each new year, we celebrate the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. by engaging in service projects throughout our communities nationwide. To many, Dr. King was a visionary. Uplifting his community through systemic change and encouraging others to take an active role in improving their communities.

His example is our call to action.

Our AFH University student-athletes from LSU, Southern, and Howard answered that call through eight (8) service projects in their own communities ranging from mural painting, planting shrubs, walking dogs, providing food and clothing for the less fortunate, and more.

Serve D.C.

The Howard University women’s and men’s golf teams kicked off volunteering on Saturday, January 14, with Serve DC. Together they packaged meals, created go kits, and learned critical CPR training.

Life’s most persistant and urgent questions is, “what are you doing for others?”

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

Peace Walk & Parade

On MLK Day, the Howard Swim & Dive team and the tennis team participated in the Peace Walk and Parade in the morning- a tradition that started over 40 years ago. The Peace Walk and Parade symbolizes the need to continue Dr. King’s work and reinforces the idea that every individual has a role to play in human progress and justice. 

If you can’t fly, run; if you can’t run, walk; if you can’t walk, crawl; but by all means keep moving.

Martin Luther King Jr.

Louisiana Key Academy

Monday, LSU Athletics hosted a “Live the Dream” Field Day at Louisiana Key Academy. Over 50 kids participated in the interactive service initiative with various stations facilitated by student-athletes highlighting their perspective sports.

MLK Day is special to me because I love giving back to my community. God has blessed me all my life and being able to give back to these kids and see them happy and smiling means the world to me.

Aristotle Abraham II, LSU Football

Forest Community Park

On Monday, Southern Volleyball, LSU Men’s Basketball, and LSU Volleyball assisted in forest restoration by planting shrubs and trees at Forest Community Park. Student-athletes moved plants from the parking lot to the restoration area, dug holes, and planted and watered plants.

Everybody can be great…because anybody can serve.

Martin Luther King

So What Else

On Monday afternoon, Howard women’s basketball, football, and lacrosse took various shifts at So What Else – whose mission is to improve the lives of children and families living in underserved communities in the Baltimore-Washington Metro Area- where they distributed meals and clothes to those less fortunate in the D.C. area. 

Doing community service on MLK Day is important to me because he [Dr. King] dedicated his entire life to service in the Black community. It’s only right that on this day we pay tribute and serve those around us.

Kaniyah Harris, Howard Women’s Basketball

The Walls Project

Southern Baseball, Southern Soccer, LSU Golf, and LSU Soccer joined The Walls Project for their annual mural painting. Student-athletes painted a mural design sketched by a local artist and assisted with clean up at Jewel J. Newman Community Center.

All labor that uplifts humanity has dignity and importance and should be undertaken with painstaking excellence.

Martin Luther King Jr.

St. Vincent de Paul

LSU student-athletes from various sports served in the dining hall at St. Vincent de Paul which provides hot meals to Baton Rouge’s homeless community daily.

Friends of the Animals

At the final service project on Monday, student-athletes from various LSU sports teams engaged with a new partner, Friends of the Animals Baton Rouge Shelter. They walked dogs and assisted shelter staff with general cleaning.

The life and legacy of Dr. King lives on through people like our student-athletes, who continue to dedicate themselves to bettering their community. While MLK Day has passed, you can still honor his legacy by taking the AFH MLK Service Day Pledge.

AFH University Service Recognition

Posted: Updated: by jbelinkie

November & December 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.

“Community service to me is all about creating meaningful connections. Giving back is a great way to strengthen ties with an amazing community that has given my team and I so much. It brings me a great deal of happiness to be able to make the slightest difference in someone’s day. I hope to continue to stay involved with the community through all of the connections that I have been able to make playing at Southern University“

Londyn Lau, Southern Softball ’22

November 2022

Student-Athlete of the Month

Our November student-athlete of the month is Helen Feldmeth from Georgetown University. This AFH intern has gone above and beyond to connect her rowing team and other athletes to service.

“Helen has been consistently involved with service on and off of campus. She single-handedly started a letter-writing campaign for elderly people across the country, collecting over 170 letters written by student-athletes on Georgetown’s campus. Not only has she been a leader in service she is also still in training with the women’s rowing program. Her attitude and determination towards AFH U and service in her community have not gone unnoticed!”

Team of the Month

Our November team of the month was none other than Bowie State University’s women’s basketball team. During the holiday season, this team set new standards for service and also rose to the challenge during the Bowie State athletics canned food drive.


“This team stood out, having the most canned goods for the November food drive amongst all the other sports teams and donating to the local food bank. They were a huge factor in collecting over 50 lbs. of food for the local food bank. Their willingness to participate and their enthusiasm for the cause was incredibly inspirational!”

December 2022

Student-Athlete of the Month

Our December student-athlete of the month is Londyn Lau from Southern University. She has been an integral part of service in the Baton Rouge community and has been a leader alongside her softball team since she was a freshman.

“Londyn Lau has been an active community service leader alongside her team Southern Softball for the last 4 years. She has been involved in several initiatives such as our 9/11 Emergency Preparedness events, MLK Day of Service, Miracle League, OLOL hospital visits, and Progress Elementary school visits. In honor of Thanksgiving, this year we served at a series of events happening in Baton Rouge. Londyn helped with set up for the Council on Aging’s Thanksgiving Luncheon. While her team traveled home for the holiday, she insisted on serving alone and assisting with meal prep for St.Vincent De Paul’s annual holiday dinner.”

Team of the Month

The December team of the month was none other than Georgetown Track & Field. Aside from making time to do team community service, they have given the gift of gear to young athletes around the D.C. area- and don’t plan on stopping anytime soon!

“The Georgetown Track and Field Team sat down for a letter-writing activity and wrote 65 letters to be delivered to senior citizens in need of love from the community. The team has also maintained a gear collection box in their locker, mainly donating shoes and other gently used items.”

We are so proud of all of our student-athletes and teams as they continue to pour into their communities through meaningful philanthropic work.