The Give Team: Achieving the Dream

FOR UPDATED INFORMATION ON THE GIVE TEAM, VISIT THE GIVE TEAM SITE AT http://www.giveteam.org.

ALSO connect with us on the following places:

1. Instagram at: @thegiveteam,
2. Facebook at: http://www.facebook.com/giveteam,
3. Twitter (every now and then) at: @keepgivingmore; and
4. NEW IMAGE YOUTH CENTER at: http://www.newimageyouth.org.

THE BLOG POST BELOW WAS PUBLISHED AT THE BEGINNING OF THE 2017 SEASON. For an update on the team, the program, and how YOU can get involved to give more, visit http://www.giveteam.net.

Residents of the Parramore neighborhood in Orlando are familiar with poverty and the stresses associated with gangs, violence and all that comes with being labeled a dangerous neighborhood. This happens in a city home to a place claiming to make dreams come true, and a basketball team named the Orlando Magic resides in the same part of town. Yet to many in Parramore the magic is lost. But if you look a little closer, you’ll see something amazing. You’ll find a place that actually DOES make dreams come true; a place that is the best kept secret in Orlando.

New Image Youth Center is an after school and summer program serving 70 students in Parramore, and focused on keeping hopes and dreams alive, instilling a sense of pride and an admirable work ethic within its students. NIYC focuses on three primary areas: (a) creating a safe haven where its students can DREAM; (b) INFLUENCE those dreams by exposing students to experiences outside their immediate environment; and (c) giving students the tools to REALIZE those dreams. To that end, NIYC is graduating kids from high school and currently has 12 students attending college, including the youngest member of the PhD program in Computer Science at Auburn University. In short, the students and alumni of New Image Youth Center are accomplishing incredible things in the face of seemingly insurmountable challenges.

Just Keep Pouring is working with student from New Image Youth Center to form The Give Team. It’s a team because life is a team sport. At its heart, life is about the relationships you create in an effort to achieve greatness and find joy. It’s easier to accomplish goals if those on your team help inform and guide the direction toward those goals. There’s also an emphasis on GIVING based on a key principle instilled in NIYC students by founder and Executive Director, Dr. Shanta Barton-Stubbs: No matter how little you have, you always have something to give. We always have something to give others in need, even if it’s just a smile and a compliment. The Give Team applies that same concept to personal goals. When pushing yourself in any endeavor if you feel you’ve given all you have, you still have more to give. Just keep pouring more into what’s important, and you’ll achieve your goals quicker and learn more about yourself along the way.

As part of The Give Team, each team member will set three goals. One goal must be physical. Nothing is more true than a physical goal. If you put in the effort, you get the results. If you don’t put in the effort, you won’t see the desired results. The second goal must be related to meeting someone who has accomplished what that team member wants to accomplish. Again, it’s about GROWING YOUR TEAM and creating relationships that last. The third goal is a wildcard and can be any goal the team member chooses.

The Give Team will meet every other Saturday at Lake Eola in Orlando, Florida starting Saturday, January 14th, 2017. There may be guest hosts along the way, such as GarageMama Fitness in Winter Garden, but the “home turf” for the team will be Lake Eola. We’ll wrap up on Saturday, May 6th by participating in the Green Beret Challenge hosted by Asymmetric Solutions in Perry, Florida. The Green Beret Challenge is a four-mile obstacle course race, with 20-30 obstacles throughout the course.

We’ll post updates on our social media sites and on this blog so others can follow each team member as they pursue their goals, and as they engage in the program. There are four areas of focus in the Achieve The Dream Program: (1) Set a Goal; (2) Make a Plan; (3) Execute the Plan; and (4) Overcome Challenges. It’s an easy formula, but as we all know, the challenge lies in the execution.

We’re seeking SPONSORS and GUEST COACHES for anyone interested. Funding from sponsors will cover costs associated with the Give Team (registration fees, weekly breakfasts, workout shirts, etc.) and will contribute toward New Image Youth Center summer programs. NIYC summer programs play an important role for each student, as the Center provides that safe haven when school is out, meals for students, staffing by qualified NIYC staff members to work with the kids, and different programs to give students important experiences throughout the summer to prevent academic slide that would otherwise occur without a structured environment focused on education. Sponsorship levels are as follows:

Platinum: $2,000 – Logo / name prominently displayed on t-shirt, on New Image Youth Center website, and on Just Keep Pouring website.Reference on New Image Youth Center and Just Keep Pouring social media sites and crowdfunding initiative. 2 complimentary spectator passes to Green Beret Challenge Obstacle Course Race, and open participation in any Saturday workout / goal setting session. Autographed copy of There is Good in My Hood book by every Give Team member.

Gold: $1,000 – Logo / name prominently displayed on t-shirt, on New Image Youth Center website, and on Just Keep Pouring website. Reference on New Image Youth Center and Just Keep Pouring social media sites and crowdfunding initiative. Copy of There is Good in My Hood autographed by every Give Team member.

Silver: $750 – Logo / name displayed on t-shirt, New Image Youth Center website and on Just Keep Pouring website. Reference on New Image Youth Center and Just Keep Pouring social media sites. Copy of There is Good in My Hood autographed by every Give Team member.

Bronze: $500 – Logo / name displayed on t-shirt, New Image Youth Center website and on Just Keep Pouring website. Reference on New Image Youth Center and Just Keep Pouring social media sites.

Team Member Sponsor / Mentor: $800 – Costs for participation in The Give Team program are estimated to be $800 per member, depending on total number of participants. As of this writing, six team members are registered. For donors with the time and interest in participating more actively, we have a special opportunity to work directly with a member of The Give Team. As a Team Member Sponsor, you’ll be able to work directly with a specific team member during Saturday workouts and weekly check in calls. You’ll be actively involved in helping your team member form and execute their plans, and help them overcome the challenges that arise along the way.

If you’re interested in learning more, you can reach me at brad.mason@justkeeppouring.com or 407.920.3674.