OCTOBER 12, 2012
of young s e v li y a d ry e v e e in th
people
Making Assists
Through basketball, Kansas head coach Bill Self has had the opportunity to meet and interact with thousands of young people. In doing so, he has observed the difference that caring adults, educational resources and accessible recreation spaces and programs can make in the lives of children. His desire to help improve the lives of young people and families in the communities around the state Kansas led him to create the Assists Foundation. In June 2006, Coach Self and his wife, Cindy, established the Assists Foundation, a 501(c)(3) organization to help raise funds and awareness for organizations that serve a variety of youth initiatives. With the help of generous friends, businesses and community members, Assists has been able to build reserves for a large-scale project that will impact the Lawrence community for years to come.
Our Mission The mission of Assists is to help provide young people access to better lives. This is accomplished by identifying areas of need and working with other community-based institutions to provide creative and lasting solutions. Through Assists, folks can make a difference in the everyday lives of young people.
Celebrate Lawrence! This day marks the inaugural event of Celebrate Lawrence, a day that pays tribute to organizations that work toward a better tomorrow. Today, the paper is wrapped a bit differently. It signals the partnership between Bill Self’s Assists Foundation & The Lawrence Journal-World. All day, matching revenue from the sales of Lawrence Journal-World newspapers at convenience stores, racks & select vendors with special Late Night coverage will be donated to Bill Self’s Assists Foundation. Moreover, this event aims to drive awareness for the community organizations that strive to better the lives of others. Lawrence’s future is bright because – from the beginning – its citizens have cared so much. They still do. Langston Hughes’s words were right on target: We hold tomorrow bright before us like a flame. Celebrate Lawrence!
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Programs
Coach Self sits with scholarship recipients at the Kansas City Kansas School Foundation for Excellence awards presentation.
ASSISTS SINCE 2009
The Assists Foundation actively reaches out to organizations and agencies that are committed to improving the lives of youth throughout the state of Kansas. Assists has established working relationships with two local public school systems as they have been identified as having the greatest reach into the families of young people. Through these partnerships, academic scholarships are awarded to graduating seniors so they may pursue their higher education goals. Additionally, Assists is committed to awarding grants to organizations around the state of Kansas that are working diligently to improve the lives of children and families in our communities. Grants are awarded based on financial need and the advancement of the mission of Assists.
Scholarships & Grants SCHOLARSHIPS
GRANTS
The Assists Foundation’s scholarship program began with the undergraduate class of 2013. Each spring, Assists awards four-year renewable scholarships to a minimum of eight students from the Lawrence and Kansas City, Kansas school districts. At the end of the four year period, the students will have each received $10,000 toward their college tuition. Currently, the scholarships are being administered through Assists’ partnerships with the Lawrence Schools Foundation and Kansas City Kansas School Foundation for Excellence. Scholarship selection is based upon academic achievement, financial need and community involvement.
The Assists Foundation began distributing grants in 2009. Since the inception of the community grants program, Assists has awarded over $114,000 in financial support to organizations around the state of Kansas that are dedicated to improving the lives of children and families. Some of the organizations that have received grant support from Assists include Family Promise of Lawrence, House of Hope Wichita, The Kansas Pediatric Foundation, The Lawrence Arts Center, Van Go and the Ronald McDonald House.
Assists Events
Coach Self poses with the Lawrence High School scholarship recipients in 2011.
HOW TO APPLY
FOR GRANTS • Download an application at: www.assistyouth.org/grants. The deadline to submit applications for the 2012 award cycle is November 15th.
FOR SCHOLARSHIPS • Students in Lawrence should contact the Lawrence Schools Foundation at 785.330.2790 or visit: www.lawrenceschoolsfoundation.org. • Students in Kansas City, KS should contact the Kansas City Kansas School Foundation for Excellence at 913.279.2091 or visit: www.kcksffe.org.
THE COLOR RUN
JOIN US!
Last weekend, nearly 7,000 runners took to the streets in downtown Lawrence to participate in The Color Run. Proceeds from the race benefited The Assists Foundation. We would like to sincerely thank the runners, volunteers and community members who made this event a success.
The Assists Foundation hopes to see you at one of our upcoming events! Salty Iguana’s Freaky Fiesta Benefiting Assists WHEN: Friday, October 26th WHERE: The Salty Iguana at 6th and Wakarusa ABOUT: Tickets $100/person. Purchase at Salty Iguana or online at http://bit.ly/Oj0ZZO A Courtside View WHEN: Thursday, November 1st WHERE: The Crown Toyota Pavilion ABOUT: Join KU head coach Bill Self and an all-star line-up of panelists to preview the season ahead and discuss a range of topics that impact the sport of basketball today. Panelists include ESPN broadcaster Jay Bilas, Sporting News columnist Mike DeCourcy and Kansas City Star columnist Blair Kerkhoff. Tickets available online at http:// bit.ly/QNVTlm.
Proceeds from both events will fund the 2012 community grant cycle, which will be awarded in late November. Additional funds raised will support our scholarship funds as well as the proposed recreation center in west Lawrence.
DONATE
Your support is sincerely appreciated. Donations can be made online or by mail.
CONTACT US 785.864.7929 OFFICE 785.864.5761 FAX www.assistyouth.org info@assistyouth.org 1651 Naismith Drive Lawrence, Kansas 66045
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FRIDAY, OCTOB
Every penny from each paper sold goes to Bill Self’s Assists Foundation!* The mission of Assists is to help provide young people access to better lives. This is accomplished by identifying areas of need and working with other community-based institutions to provide creative and lasting solutions.
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*MATCHING FUNDS FOR ALL NON-SUBSCRIPTION PURCHASES ONLY.