F3 Impact at Alexander Youth Network

F3 Impact at Alexander Youth Network

F3 initiated a relationship with Alexander Youth Network [AYN] in January 2015. AYN is a non-profit facility that provides professional treatment to children with serious emotional and behavioral problems. The work we’ve done at AYN has been with kids that are in the residential program. These kids – typically ages 6-12, and mainly boys – live at AYN for months at a time as they receive treatment. Thus far during 2015, men of F3 have led ten Saturday workouts at AYN, we’ve led and funded [thanks to the F3 Foundation] a fun summer cookout on the AYN campus, and we attended the annual AYN celebration/fundraising luncheon held in uptown Charlotte. And I’m pleased to report that in September we are scheduled to deliver new sports equipment to the AYN campus, thanks to a $1,300 grant from the F3 Foundation that will enable us to purchase all sorts of gear [e.g., footballs, basketballs, volleyball set, disc golf set, ping pong table, etc.] for the [up to] 36 residential program participants that live on campus at any given time.

In late 2014 when I reached out to AYN I wasn’t sure if anything would come of it, or even what the possibilities were. But, I knew for sure that men of F3 would rise to the occasion if we put a program in place. Interestingly enough, after connecting with AYN I learned that two men of F3 were/are serving on the AYN Board [which I suppose shouldn’t have been a surprise].  We launched our workouts in January and since that time we’ve been present and we’ve been consistent. 20 men of F3 have been involved in some capacity during this period. We know the kids and they know us. And while I suppose it would have been worthwhile to have done just one workout with the kids at AYN, I believe the reason we are having an IMPACT is because we’ve created a sustained partnership. One of my best my moments at AYN was at an event where after seeing one of the kids a couple times during the same week he said to me, “I see you everywhere.” Our work with AYN is yet another example of how men from all across F3 Nation take action and make a difference. Triple claps to the men that have been involved, and thanks goes to the F3 Foundation for supporting our efforts.

Joker