BATON ROUGE — Ablaze Youth Choir at United Christian Faith Ministries is redefining traditional Sunday morning worship. 

The group has more than 80 members in its choir, and they bring a different vibe to Sunday morning worship.

“When we come, we’re doing a remix, maybe music changes, but it’s all for the glory of God all in our own unique way,” said member Mark Ellis Jr.

By remixing traditional worship songs, Ablaze said they are drawing in a younger crowd and making church more appealing.

“We try to incorporate a lot of energy and just like have a fire for the Lord, and I think that’s really attractive to this generation and pulls them in,” said member Madelyn Ellis. “They want to get excited and dance in church and to sing and not feel ashamed.”

The youth choir performs every fourth Sunday of the month for the congregation, but they have spread their spirit beyond the church walls through social media.

Member Samarah Hayes said the faith-based content is not what typical teenagers would be posting on social media, but she’s proud of the work her group is doing.

“Being able to display that not being ashamed, being able to be up here and knowing that I’m putting my faith all in God,” Hayes said. 

Member Tre Alston said the group gets their creative ideas from God. 

“It’s a lot of just hearing from God, hearing from the Holy Spirit and that’s how we typically create our content. It’s the reason why it has so much influence,” said Alston.

Ablaze has gained social media attention for posting their performances and recently won the Black Christian Influencers Gen Z Influencer of the Year award. 

Group member Vuiron Carter said they have received a lot of positive reactions and even gained attention from Gospel artists like Tye Tribbet and Kirk Franklin.

“I just feel like it has been really good for our ministry and our choir as well because that allows more people to be drawn to this ministry that we’re doing,” Carter said. 

The group said it’s not just about praise and worship, but bringing people to know Christ. 

“This is not just worship, this is also evangelism. We’re also trying to reach the souls of the people who don’t in our generation,” said member Joshua Ricard Jr. 

Members said they hope to continue being a light and spreading the message to the youth to be “Ablaze” for Christ.

“You can live a Godly lifestyle and still have so much fun serving him so the faster and the younger you get it, the better,” Mark said.

The group will be releasing an album in July.

Jonny Evans is in advanced talks with Manchester United over a staff role that will tap into his knowledge of youth development.

United want to retain Evans at the club after he called time on his playing career and an agreement is in place for him to look after loans of emerging talents.

Evans, 37, returned to United in 2023 after eight years away and provided a meaningful contribution on the pitch, making 43 appearances, and also a telling impact around the club, offering advice to younger players and giving his insight into United’s heritage. On last summer’s pre-season tour in Los Angeles he spoke compellingly of staff members losing their jobs in the first round of redundancies.

But his football experience is seen as vital to keep at United, where he won three Premier League titles, two League Cups, a Champions League and a Club World Cup in his first spell. He rose through the ranks at United having first attended the club’s centre of excellence in Belfast aged nine, making his debut in September 2007 under Sir Alex Ferguson.

After leaving Old Trafford in 2015 to join West Bromwich Albion then Leicester City, Evans returned on a free transfer under Erik ten Hag, initially being paid the minimum wage due to being registered as a short-term employee.

United see Evans as a valuable asset for his character, professionalism and experience of winning trophies, and feel a role in bridging the pathway between academy and senior football suits him.

Les Parry, United’s loans manager, left the club last November to take a similar job at NEOM SC in Saudi Arabia and Evans is set to fill than vacancy. His job will be to identify appropriate clubs at which to place young players and then keep on top of their progress, offering support where needed.

In all, across his two stints at United, Evans played 241 games, scoring eight goals.

The move into a staff role officially brings to an end Evans’ 19-year playing career. He made 538 senior appearances for five clubs, winning the Championship with Sunderland in 2007, the FA Cup with Leicester in 2021, and the competition again with United in 2024.

He earned 107 caps for Northern Ireland, leading his nation to the round of 16 at Euro 2016 as captain. He was awarded an MBE in 2023. In all, across his two stints at United, Evans played 241 games, scoring eight goals.

(Alex Livesey/Getty Images)

Nik Needham gives instructions at his annual youth football camp Saturday. (PHOTOS: Adam Kunin, For OC Sports Zone).

Back in the early 2010s, NFL players Nik Needham (Cleveland Browns) and Jaylinn Hawkins (New England Patriots) donned the silver and gray for Buena Park High School. More than a decade later, the longtime friends still continue to give back to their community. 

On Saturday afternoon, youngsters from across the Southern California community gathered at Buena Park High School for the fourth annual youth football camp hosted by Needham and Hawkins.

To see the slide show, click on the first photo:

Nik Needham and Jaylinn Hawkins (middle) with close friends Chris Lammons (far left) and Keith Smith (far right) at their annual youth football camp.

Nik Needham and Jaylinn Hawkins with campers and other coaches after the first session of their annual youth football camp.

NFL players (left to right) Chris Lammons, Jaylinn Hawkins and Nik Needham sign autographs after their youth football camp.

Nik Needham demonstrates a drill to campers at his youth football camp in Buena Park.

Jaylinn Hawkins speaks to campers after the first session of his youth football camp.

Nik Needham with his mother, Shannon, after their annual youth football camp.

More than 250 players attended the camp across the two sessions, with the first session being composed of third to eighth graders and the second session being comprised of high schoolers. The large turnout marked an improvement from previous years, as the camp continues to grow over time. 

“It was just a great day, Needham said. “Probably the best one yet.”

This was a big jump from last year. The next goal is to just outdo this year’s camp … But that was a pretty good one today, there’s not much I can do to top that.”

The campers competed in a series of individual drills, one-on-one repetitions and seven-on-seven situations, all while learning under the tutelage of various current and former NFL players who came out to help coach the camp.

Following each session, Needham, Hawkins and other players signed autographs, took pictures and handed out free merchandise to those in attendance.

Additionally, the event, which was free of charge, provided T-shirts, drinks and food to all campers. For Hawkins, keeping the event accessible to all was paramount. 

“It’s not about money,” Hawkins said. “It’s about kids coming out here and learning and getting the tools they need … to help them change or keep them on the right track,” Hawkins said. “I was once in their shoes and going to local camps with people who played in the NFL from the area. I just remember how much that stuck with me.”

With their largest group yet, Needham and Hawkins enjoyed watching young players from across the area compete against one another. They did their best to match the campers’ energy, even jumping in a bounce house with the players to celebrate a few interceptions in the seven-on-seven period – which Needham admitted was his favorite part of the day. 

“I lost my voice screaming all day,” Needham said. “The energy the kids brought today was a blast.”

Of course, the pair couldn’t put on the event alone. Many volunteers, former players and others helped organize and coach the camp. 

One of whom was Needham’s mother, Shannon, who played a major role in helping organize the day. She watched the two grow up together and remains proud of them for continuing to take an initiative in giving back to their community. 

“It warms my heart,” Shannon Needham said. “I’m so proud of these guys. They truly love giving back, and they love working with the youth, so it’s great to set a great example of what you can achieve when you just keep working hard.”

Video highlights

Check out interviews of Needham and Hawkins and highlights of Saturday’s camp by Adam Kunin on X (@ocportszone).

(BURBANK, Calif. – June 23, 2025) ESPN and Disney Jr. are encouraging preschoolers to get in the game through a new preschool-focused initiative with national nonprofit Every Kid Sports which provides access to sports grants for families who are facing financial hardship. As part of ESPN’s “Take Back Sports” initiative and the “Disney Jr. Let’s Play!” campaign, this groundbreaking collaboration marks the first time preschoolers will benefit from the grants that will be distributed through the Fall 2025 Every Kid Sports Pass and is part of Disney’s commitment to bringing happiness to kids, families and communities.

Registrations for the grants are now open for qualifying families with kids between the ages of 3-7 from Los Angeles, Fresno, San Francisco, Houston, Chicago, Philadelphia, Raleigh-Durham and New York. Please visit https://everykidsports.org/letsplaysports to review qualifications and submit an application.

The average cost for preschool sports registrations in the U.S. is estimated to be $80 per sport, per season. New data suggests that as kids grow older (between the ages of 6-18), sports will cost more than $1,000 per year, per kid, according to the Aspen Institute. Through ESPN and Disney Jr.’s collaboration with Every Kid Sports, Disney is committed to increasing access to sports programs for the next generation.

Jess Sims, ESPN college sports reporter, “Good Morning America” contributor and fitness expert, kicked off the campaign live on “Good Morning America” this morning.

Sims said, “I am honored to join ESPN and Disney Jr. to encourage preschoolers to get out and play. With youth sports participation declining, due in part to an increase in registration fees, this program will ensure that young kids have the chance to play and experience the incredible benefits and important life lessons that come from playing sports.”

Other celebrity sports stars who have joined the campaign as ambassadors include Jesse Palmer – ESPN College Football Analyst and former NFL quarterback, and Sydney Leroux – forward for Angel City F.C. of the National Women’s Soccer League.

Eleana Fanaika, executive director, Every Kid Sports said: “We’re thrilled to team up with Disney Jr. and ESPN to bring the magic of play to preschoolers from income-restricted families. This collaboration is about more than sports — it’s about joy, confidence, and creating those first unforgettable moments that spark a lifelong love of being active and connected.”

About ESPN’s Take Back Sports
Take Back Sports is a youth initiative led by ESPN designed to get and keep kids playing sports. With only 38% of kids playing sports on a regular basis, we believe it’s time for parents, coaches and kids to take back sports and make it fun again. ESPN and The Walt Disney Company are working in tandem with our league, business, and community partners to make the youth sports system more accessible so that kids across the country have the opportunity to play and keep playing. Sports forever starts today. To learn more about Take Back Sports, visit TakeBackSports.org. 

About “Disney Jr. Let’s Play!”
Disney Jr. Let’s Play!” is a multiplatform global campaign designed to inspire preschoolers to experience the joy of play through Disney Jr.’s beloved characters and stories. Spanning original content, consumer products, music, live events, community activations and more, the campaign is part of Disney’s commitment to delivering happiness to kids, families and communities. Backed by clinical expertise from the Child Mind Institute about the importance of play in preschool development, the “Disney Jr. Let’s Play!” campaign taps into the playful spirit of Disney Jr. favorites like “Bluey,” “Marvel’s Spidey and his Amazing Friends,” “Mickey Mouse Clubhouse” and “SuperKitties,” which are all available to stream on Disney+.

About Every Kid Sports
Every Kid Sports is a national 501(c)(3) organization that is supporting life through access to youth sports. Since 2010 they’ve been removing the financial barriers that impede a kid’s confidence and community building, cultivation of social skills, and the numerous physical, mental, and emotional benefits of sports participation. To learn more, visit everykidsports.org.

MEDIA CONTACTS:
ESPN
Garrett Cowan
garrett.cowan@espn.com

DISNEY JR.
Erica McCearley
erica.mccearley@disney.com

The Initiative, Powered by Disney, Includes a $5 Million Investment and Increases Access to Play for Young Athletes

ESPN and Disney Jr. Also Announce Collaboration with Every Kid Sports to Get Preschoolers in the Game

Today, ESPN’s new youth sports initiative Take Back Sports — created to expand access to sport for youth — launched its official website (www.TakeBackSports.org), debuted a new animated video, and announced the recipients of its inaugural Innovation Challenge grants. It was also announced that Take Back Sports and the ‘Disney Jr. Let’s Play!’ campaign have collaborated with national non-profit Every Kid Sports on a new preschool-focused initiative.

New Official Website
In partnership with Positive Coaching Alliance (PCA), the launch of TakeBackSports.org offers a premier online destination for youth sports parents, caregivers and coaches with tips, resources and actionable strategies on how to improve the youth sports experience for their child and others. The site, which is curated by PCA, includes articles, checklists and additional resources that educate parents with topics such as “Ten Tips for First-Time Sports Parents/Caregivers,” “Am I That Sports Parent Assessment,” and an “Ask PCA” tool for adults to receive feedback on questions they have about youth sports.

Additionally, for the next month, ESPN will cover registration fees and provide free access to PCA’s Parent Online Courses. These interactive workshops provide specific tips and techniques for parents to use in talking with their children on game day, developing a productive coach relationship and becoming positive supporters in the stands.

New Animated Video
ESPN also is debuting an animated video created by ESPN Creative Studio in collaboration with Big Studios to further amplify the campaign’s message. The video includes the original song “They Just Wanna Play (Keep The Game Fun)” produced by As You Wish Music, which is intended to evoke ‘90s pop-punk nostalgia. Building on the momentum of earlier efforts, the video combines bold animation and compelling storytelling to highlight the importance of play, community and the transformative power of sports. This new creative aims to deepen audience engagement and spark meaningful conversations about how we can collectively improve the youth sports experience.

Innovation Challenge Grant Recipients
Building upon the $5 million charitable investment that ESPN has invested in to reimagine youth sports, ESPN announced the Take Back Sports Innovation Challenge at the Aspen Institute’s Project Play Summit. Through strategic investments in cutting-edge training models, inclusive programming and community-rooted solutions, the Innovation Challenge spotlights bold approaches that reimagine how kids engage with sports — fostering a more accessible and positive youth sports experience for all. ESPN doubled its original investment from $50,000 to $100,000 in response to more than 150 compelling applications from across the country. This year’s Take Back Sports Innovation Challenge recipients include:

• The Center for Healing and Justice through Sport (CHJS) received a grant for Collective, a first-of-its-kind digital credentialing platform that brings visibility, accountability and trust to youth sports coaching. Developed in partnership with RAIS3 Partners, Collective allows families and organizations to see who’s coaching their children, what training they’ve completed, and whether they’re equipped to foster safe, inclusive environments. With ESPN’s support, CHJS will onboard 2,500 coaches, parents and programs in Boston — making it the first fully “trackable” city for coach credentials — setting a new national standard for quality, transparency and equity in youth sports.
• City Parks Foundation’s impactful “Everyday Play” program delivers free, daily, multi-sport programming to underserved youth in New York City parks. By offering equitable access to tennis, soccer, track & field, golf, and more — along with trauma-informed coaching, career pathways for alumni, and extended summer play — CityParks is addressing systemic barriers to youth sports while keeping kids active, engaged, and supported where they live. This grant will directly fund operations at Kaiser Park in Brooklyn, serving children with high needs and helping sustain a proven, community-rooted model that prioritizes fun, health and opportunity for all.
• Lakeshore Foundation’s Super Sports Saturday pilot will bring inclusive, Paralympic-style sports to youth with physical disabilities in underserved areas of Alabama. As the only multi-adapted-sports organization in the state and a national Paralympic training hub, Lakeshore is uniquely equipped to deliver high-impact, free programming that blends fun, fitness and skill development. With ESPN’s support, the pilot will host five events in Montgomery, train local mentors and lay the foundation for a scalable model that creates access, independence and a culture of multi-sport play for youth with disabilities across the Southeast.
• Let Her Play has a proven, scalable model that connects young girls with collegiate female athletes to inspire sports participation and leadership. They uniquely address the gender gap through a groundbreaking “Playing the Long Game” initiative that empowers former athletes as fun-focused youth coaches and mentors to keep girls engaged longer in sports. Their data-driven, community-rooted approach tackles critical participation drop-off and creates lasting impact by fostering role models who reflect and motivate the next generation.
• Mudsock Youth Athletics received a grant for its commitment to keeping teens engaged in community-based sports by making play fun, inclusive, and youth-driven. Through its “Mudsock Way” initiative, the organization is training coaches and expanding its Youth Action Board to ensure teen voices are centered in shaping programs — using the grant to deepen that youth leadership model and reduce burnout and attrition in year two.
• The Official Leadership Network (OLN) uses a pioneering scalable, tech-driven solution to one of youth sports’ most urgent challenges: the critical shortage of trained officials — especially in underserved communities. Through a strategic partnership between UMPS CARE Charities, Sports Officials Care and RefReps, OLN is building a diverse pipeline of high school students trained not only in officiating fundamentals but also in life and leadership skills. With ESPN’s support, OLN will digitize its proven curriculum into engaging, multi-sport video modules — transforming officiating into a gateway for youth employment, confidence and long-term civic leadership.
• Philadelphia Youth Sports Collaborative (PYSC) earned a grant for its transformative Game On Philly! initiative, which places trained community coaches and AmeriCorps members directly into neighborhood recreation centers to deliver high-quality, trauma-informed sports programming. The program’s innovative partnership with Philadelphia Parks & Recreation ensures scalable, sustainable recreation for youth ages 6–14 where they live, play and grow.
• Shriners Children’s Portland creates lifelong athletes by proactively addressing injury prevention, sport burnout and early specialization. Leveraging its expertise as a nationally recognized pediatric orthopedic hospital, the organization will lead educational workshops and hands-on injury prevention programming for coaches and parents across Portland, equipping key community stakeholders with tools, resources and expert-led guidance. With ESPN’s support, Shriners will launch this first-of-its-kind effort in the region, helping ensure young athletes stay healthy, engaged and active in sports for years to come.
• Volo Kids Foundation has an innovative, equity-centered approach to expanding youth sports access in under-resourced communities nationwide. By leveraging a unique partnership with its for-profit arm, Volo Sports, the organization activates a sustainable pipeline of trained volunteer coaches to lead free, multi-sport programming across eight cities. With a proven track record of engaging over 70,000 children and 15,000 volunteers, Volo Kids addresses both physical activity gaps and youth mental health challenges, while building character, confidence and community — making it a scalable and impactful model for reimagining accessible youth sports in America.
• Women’s Coaching Alliance is tackling two major issues in youth sports: the lack of female coaches and the shortage of available coaches overall. Through its “Coach Today, Lead For Life” program, WCA is expanding a proven model that trains and pays young women to become leaders and role models in their communities — helping more kids, especially girls, stay in the game while creating a more equitable and sustainable coaching pipeline.

Disney Jr. Collaboration
ESPN and Disney Jr. are encouraging preschoolers to get in the game through a new preschool-focused initiative with national non-profit Every Kid Sports which provides access to sports grants for families who are facing financial hardship. As part of ESPN’s Take Back Sports initiative and the ‘Disney Jr. Let’s Play!’ campaign, this groundbreaking collaboration marks the first time preschoolers will benefit from the grants that will be distributed through the Every Kid Sports Fall Sports Pass 2025 program and is part of Disney’s commitment to bringing happiness to kids, families and communities.

More About Take Back Sports
Introduced earlier this year at the Aspen Institute’s Project Play Summit — where ESPN serves on the 63X30 committee aimed at getting 63% of kids playing sports by 2030 — Take Back Sports addresses critical challenges in the youth sports landscape and focuses on three primary areas to drive change:

• Philanthropy and investing in youth sports organizations that are breaking down the barriers to play

• A national campaign focused on helping parents, coaches and caring adults make the youth sports system stronger 

• Purposeful storytelling on youth sports across ESPN platforms together with athletes and league partners

ESPN has committed $5 million to support organizations focused on removing barriers to youth sports participation in four key areas, including:

• Community recreational leagues where kids of all skill levels and backgrounds have a place to play. ESPN has made grants to Steph and Ayesha Curry’s Eat. Learn. Play. Foundation, the Women’s Sports Foundation’s Sports 4 Life program, Special Olympics Unified Sports, among other programs that provide access to sports.

   

• Quality coaching training where coaches become further developed in critical competencies to better help kids thrive. ESPN is teaming up with Positive Coaching Alliance and the National Parks and Rec Association as part of the Million Coaches Challenge to provide training to coaches throughout the country.

   

• Encouragement of multisport play in an effort to prevent injuries and burnout, ultimately helping kids develop into stronger athletes. ESPN has invested in multisport programs through Boys & Girls Clubs of America ALL STARS program, as well as 2-4-1 Sports.

   

• Promoting the fun in sports, which according to a study by the National Institute of Health, children cite ‘fun’ as the primary reason for participation in organized sport and its absence as the number one reason for youth sport attrition. ESPN is collaborating to better equip kids to have fun through support of mental wellness programming with Doc Wayne, including its sport-based therapy programs and trauma-informed education for coaches, as well as Athletes for Hope CHAMPS program.

ESPN’s Take Back Sports initiative is part of The Walt Disney Company’s ongoing work to inspire the next generation. For more than 100 years, Disney has been a source of happiness for kids and families, and the opportunity to make the fun of sport more accessible to youth is just one example of this ongoing commitment.

Only 38.3% of kids ages 6-12 played sports in 2023 on a regular basis, according to data from the Sports & Fitness Industry Association and the Aspen Institute’s State of Play 2024 report. And kids are quitting early, dropping out on average by age 11 (Project Play & Utah State University’s Families in Sports Lab). · This is why ESPN and The Walt Disney Company are working to make the youth sports system more accessible and fun so that kids across the country have the opportunity to play and keep playing.

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About ESPN Corporate Citizenship
ESPN believes that, at its very best, sports uplift the human spirit. Its corporate citizenship programs use the power of sport to positively address society’s needs through strategic community investments, cause marketing programs, collaboration with sports organizations and employee volunteerism, while also utilizing its diverse media assets. For more information go to www.espn.com/citizenship.

Press Contact
Garrett Cowan | garrett.cowan@espn.com

Today marks the 53rd anniversary of Title IX, the landmark legislation that established protections against sex- and gender-based discrimination at schools and universities. 

The Trump administration has threatened to withhold millions of dollars in federal funding from universities and schools that allow transgender students to play sports, accusing them of violating Title IX – while at the same time, directing the Department of Education to pause existing Office of Civil Rights investigations and leave countless survivors of sexual violence without protection or support. 

Emma Grasso Levine, Senior Manager of Title IX Policy and Programs at the leading Title IX advocacy project Know Your IX (a survivor- and youth-led program of Advocates for Youth), issued the following statement:

“Today, as we celebrate Title IX and the activists who advocated for its passage, we must also grapple with its yet-unrealized promise to eradicate sex-based discrimination in schools. 

Title IX was always intended to establish equitable access to school spaces and educational opportunities for all students. Lately, political extremists have mischaracterized and weaponized the legacy of Title IX against transgender young people, wielding a piece of legislation meant to create safe and supportive schools against the very students who need its protection the most. 

On this anniversary, we continue the fight for a comprehensive Title IX for all students. Survivors of sexual violence, pregnant and parenting students, and LGBTQI+ students need elected officials to step up and fulfill Title IX’s promise of educational opportunity for all – and to stop using Title IX as a cudgel to keep universities in line with the President’s discriminatory agenda.”

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Advocates for Youth is a 501(c)3 organization that champions efforts that help young people make informed decisions about their reproductive and sexual health. Advocates for Youth boldly advocates for a more positive and realistic approach to adolescent sexual health, focusing its work on young people ages 14-24 in the U.S. and around the globe.

For Immediate Release: June 23, 2025

Contact: Eleanor Naiman, eleanor.naiman@advocatesforyouth.org