Statements

Mission

To empower student-athletes to reach their full potential in athletic and professional endeavors by instilling positive core values and leadership skills that reflect a progressive lifestyle.

Background

Over the course of the last decade, there has been a proliferation of programs aimed to improve the graduation rate for high school and collegiate student-athletes. However, Athletes Can seeks to take these strides a step further by taking the focus from graduation to professionalism through a number of enrichment programs, seminars, speaking engagements, tutoring services, and scholarship opportunities, that will inspire student-athletes to reach their full potential in athletic and professional endeavors. AC Inc. will develop and motivate student-athletes to exemplify their talents, leadership, and brand by building their capacity to reflect a progressive, professional lifestyle. By equipping student-athletes with positive core values, we hope to witness student-athletes impacting their community both locally and globally. In addition from direct services from our staff, student-athletes will be given input and testimonials from proven professionals from an array of different industries. The preparation provided will give student-athletes a competitive edge when making the transition into the competition of life. Staff and volunteers will help high school and college student-athletes adopt a skill set that allows them to think strategically and analytically. By nurturing youth and taking the time to invest in their welfare, Athletes Can will become a bridge to a desired future for an innumerable amount of students across America.

Impact

Elbert Nathaniel Rich III, better known as "Trey Rich" was born and raised in Memphis, Tennessee. As the eldest son, Trey fell in love with football at an early age. Trey went on to amass numerous accomplishments as an athlete at White Station High School and decided he wanted to follow that passion to college. After completing his senior season at Belhaven Christian College, Trey was making plans to play in the NFL or start his business in Sports Administration. While riding his bike to work, December 24, 2014, Trey was killed by a drunk driver and his dreams were cut short. Although Trey's untimely death saddened the hearts of many, his 26-year life inspired a countless number of people to follow their passion with consistency, hard work, and spiritual fortitude. The Trey Rich Memorial Scholarship is awarded to a male student-athlete that embodies the determination, servitude, and dedication exemplified by Trey. This award will serve as a memorial to continue Trey's legacy as a well-rounded student-athlete and leader. Our scholarship recipients possess character that allows them to follow their dreams by striving daily to overcome obstacles and defy limitations. In 2016, we awarded Burke Williams, from White Station High School, with a $1, 000 scholarship to aid him in his pursuit to pursue higher education. We believe community service is an aspect of utilizing the platform of sports in a positive way. we want to continue providing the youth with outlets for proper nourishment and exercise. Our bike explosion is a step in that direction. By having local law enforcement come to show the kids proper safety precautions and bicycle safety, we also hope to build a sense of trust between the Nashville community and law enforcement. During 2015, we were able to give away 43 bikes to students at Bellshire Design Center during the Christmas holidays. In 2016 we were able to give away another 46 bikes at Dodson Elementary. During the past 2 years we have been able to impact the lives of over 50 young men that have ambition to play college football. Our College Football Symposium is designed to give high school football seniors and their guardians direct insight to challenges, expectations, and changes that are connected to the transition into college athletics. One the next 3 years, we want expand our services to a facility where we can house seminars, workshops, and service projects that positively impact the lives of youth in Middle Tennessee.

Needs

1. Athletes Can is in need of operational grant funding to assist with transitioning into a educational facility that provides youth with the resources need to excel academically and professional. 2. Our Girl Talk program need is $3,500. The purpose of this event is to provide a safe and nurturing place where female student-athletes can develop, cultivate, and enhance their skills in building healthy relationships, effective communication, and athletic skills to advance their career aspirations and become role models for their communities. 3. Our Christmas On Wheels need is $4, 000. We want to continue providing the youth with outlets for proper nourishment and exercise. Our bike explosion is a step in that direction. By having local law enforcement come to show the kids proper safety precautions and bicycle safety, we also hope to build a sense of trust between the Nashville community and law enforcement. 4. Our Coffee With Coaches event need is $2, 400. This event is designed to bring together coaches from Middle Tennessee to discuss the direction of their respective programs and how our organization can impact their students. 5. We need the ability to access a more widespread email contact list. We distribute a monthly newsletter and we would like to expand this more audiences.

CEO Statement

The key to our organization's success is our ability to value every day. We want to promote this with the students we deal with to give them insight to the importance of setting daily objectives as they pursue higher education, social, and professional ideals. Our organizations slogan is 'Embracing the unity of Mind, Body, and Power.' The connections between the mind and body afford us all an opportunity at exploring the power we have. Yesterday is a testimony, tomorrow is a hope, but today is a chance.

Board Chair Statement

Our organization has enjoyed consistent efforts of a small, dedicated group of board members and staff. With the greatest challenge being to balance organizational tasks with other full time careers, the leaders of our organization are in continuous pursuit of innovative ways to meet organizational mission. We are currently looking for grant writers to work on contractual terms in order to solidify a greater means for salary funding. The benefit of a concentrated group of constituents is the ability to schedule productive board and staff meetings. Anchoring on the ideas and feedback from these meetings has been a huge help in the progression of our organization. Programming has improved because of the consistency of communication. We are currently looking to expand our board to broaden our horizon of potential funding. In 2016, we made a concerted effort that all board members and staff increase their understanding of the mission and vision of Athletes Can. Operating with the mission in mind was the focus of several staff meetings and there was evidence of staff growth regarding the implementation of our core values.

Service Categories
Primary Category:	Education  - Student Services
Secondary Category:	Recreation & Sports  - Amateur Sports
Tertiary Category:	Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking Foundations  - Alliances & Advocacy

Areas Served

Our organization serves the following zip codes: 37209, 37211, 37122, 37215, 37013, 37075, 37207, 38115, 38118, 37203, 37046, 37135, 38476

TN - Wilson

TN - Williamson

TN - Davidson

TN