Weekend of Champions
About Weekend of Champions
The Weekend of Champions is an award-winning charitable initiative that harnesses the powerful influences of sports, entertainment and corporate excellence to captivate, empower and connect communities across the nation.
The cornerstone of the Weekend of Champions program is its 360-degree approach to youth development and community empowerment. With program elements ranging from an educational sports camp for hundreds of youth to an educational health festival for thousands, the Weekend of Champions is able to successfully impact diverse audiences interested in improving its communities.
The Weekend of Champions has not only received support from gracious corporate underwriters, business executives and community leaders, but has also forged powerful collaborations with notable athletes and entertainers including Cedric the Entertainer (Comedian), Chris Berman (Sports Broadcaster), Jackie Joyner-Kersee (Olympic Gold Medalist), Ray Lewis (NFL Linebacker), Alicia Keys (Grammy Award Winning Artist), Shemar Moore (Actor), Kurt Warner (NFL Quarterback), and Brian White (Actor) among many others.
It is this unique fusion of corporate, celebrity and community that inspired the Weekend of Champions title. Together, we can make a difference.
Community Collaborations
The Weekend of Champions takes pride in tapping into the collective power of the existing resources within each community to educate and inspire its youth for long-term change. To date, Youth Lifeline America has collaborated with more than 327 community-based organizations across the country to mobilize communities and serve the greater good. Upon conclusion of the Weekend of Champions, Youth Lifeline America works to maintain an ongoing relationship with each community partner to identify ways to stay connected and serve the needs of the community.
Community Outreach Tour
The Weekend of Champions kicks off by sharing the excitement and energy with a diverse community audience. The Community Outreach Tour features a group of celebrity athletes, entertainers and executives that visit numerous community-based organizations to encourage and empower youth. Tour elements include insightful Q & A Sessions, autograph signings, gift distribution, photo opportunities, workshops and more.
Football & Life Skills Camp
The award-winning Football & Life Skills Camp is a unique experience that educates and inspires thousands of middle and high school youth across the nation each year. Unlike most camps across the nation, the Football & Life Skills Camp focuses primarily on education, and secondarily on athletic performance.
Education: Said simply, the Football & Life Skills Camp’s educational curriculum is second to none. In partnership with industry experts, business executives and community leaders, camp participants are mentored with an honest, entertaining and hands-on approach to cultivate the valuable life skills necessary to become a more positive and productive citizen.
Life Skills topics include:
Football Training: Football training, lead by professional NFL players, includes state-of-the-art equipment, knowledgeable support staff and NFL amenities for each camper. Additionally, participants will receive an unparalleled opportunity to learn offensive and defensive fundamentals from professional football stars.
By utilizing our unique methods of training and education, Football & Life Skills Camps have earned an impressive resume of quantifiable results that highlight its impact on the communities it serves:
More than 70% of Football & Life Skills Camp participants graduate from high school.
More than a 75% of eligible Football & Life Skills Camp participants are currently employed.
More than 65% of Football & Life Skills Camp participants reported an increase in their academic GPA’s from the previous academic year.
More than 90% of Football & Life Skills Camp participants reported a decrease in truancy from the previous academic year.
More than 4,000 business professionals, community leaders, athletes and entertainers have actively mentored our nation’s middle and high school youth population via participation in the Football & Life Skills Camp.
More than 50,000 free meals have been distributed and consumed at the Football & Life Skills Camp.
More than 60,000,000 calories have been burned through countless hours of conditioning, workouts and practices.
Throughout the year following each Football & Life Skills Camp, camp participants are eligible and encouraged to participate in a host of field trips, workshops and other educational/entertaining opportunities designed to help them stay focused and reach their true potential.
Night of Heroes
The Night of Heroes honors the unsung pillars of the community within each Weekend of Champions’ host region. During this “Hollywood” style event, selected honorees will enjoy a complimentary evening of music, food, awards and fun hosted by celebrity guests from sports and entertainment. Night of Heroes honorees have included:
Free Health & Life Skills Festival
The Free Health & Life Skills Festival provides an exciting vehicle to expand the Weekend of Champions’ reach into the entire community. During this one-day festival, health services, fun and information are provided in an effort to promote healthy and active lifestyles. Specifically, Free Health & Life Skills Festival elements include free health screenings, interactive workshops, guest speakers, and booths covering various health-related issues including obesity, high blood pressure, diabetes, financial literacy, nutrition, health insurance, goal achievement strategies, computer competency and more. To entertain the entire family, the Free Health & Life Skills Festival also includes a host of fun, family-oriented activities, music and games.
Our Plan To Expand
We are currently seeking dedicated partners to help us expand our reach and impact within communities across America. We believe the Weekend of Champions presents an excellent opportunity to engage in a quantifiably successful program that can be customized to fit your philanthropic needs.
To learn how you can become a sponsor for the Weekend of Champions, please click here.
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