Changing the Game is an academic and athletics support program targeting high school and community college students, focused on increasing the number of African American and Latino male college graduates. Using sports as the drawing card, the project seeks to create well rounded young men who excel in the game of life.

Core 6 Curriculum

• College Preparation
• Math and English Proficiency
• Character Building
• Health and Wellness
• Parental Support
• Athletic Coaching

College Preparation

College prep support includes advising regarding course selection, exposure to higher education, financial aid counseling, college application assistance, college entrance exam support, and NCAA clearinghouse registration.

Math and English Proficiency

Money Ball- Using the business of sports as a teaching tool, Money Ball encourages students to apply math skills learned in class to a real world context. students will learn a variety of business metrics including how to compute return on investment, meet payroll, diversify their investment portfolio, track the performance of a given asset, prorate a player’s signing bonus and incentives, explore the creation of additional profit streams, and assess the cost/benefit of relocating their franchise from one city to another. Including lessons on branding, sales, and marketing, these high level problem solving skills will be used as a means of demonstrating the practical applications mathematics and exposing participants to a multiplicity of sports-related careers.

Sports Page- Participants will read and react to stories in the local and national news, journal and analyze their personal perspectives on sporting events in which they participate, write human interest stories for publication, and post sport-related blogs on the Changing the Game website. Seeking to develop both the written and oral communication skills of participants, Sports Page also allows students to debate current and historic sports related issues (e.g. free agency, social activism and sport, hall of fame induction, etc.) and to model sports-related jobs such as an agent, video editor, journalist, marketing representative, news director, lawyer, and union representative.

Character Building

I’ll Make Me a Man-Using case studies, roll playing, group speak outs, service learning, and mentoring, the I’ll Make Me A Man project is designed to develop high character individuals who are an asset to both the team and, more importantly, to the larger community.

Health and Wellness

I Am What I Eat-Provides its participants with accurate information on proper nutrition and exercise. It also educates students on the negative consequences of illicit and performance enhancing drugs.

Parental Support

Using parent support groups, guest speakers, and the provision of timely and accurate information regarding college admissions, NCAA eligibility requirements, and academic and athletic options beyond Division I, parents will receive resources needed to appropriately support their children’s long-term growth and development.

Athletic Coaching

Annual Academic and Athletics summer youth camps, provide students with proper instruction and are led by coaches who value their intellect and academics more than their athletic prowess.

For Information Contact:  Dina Walker, President/CEO or Daryl Scott, Program Coordinator

BLU Educational Foundation

(909) 888-7881ext. 253 or (909) 820-2827 msg/fax

Email: info@bluedfoundation.org