Hope for Opelousas launches 24-hour giving day to support local youth programs
ST. LANDRY PARISH — The countdown is on—but there’s still time to make a difference in the lives of Opelousas youth. Hope for Opelousas, a local nonprofit dedicated to empowering children through mentorship, academics, and enrichment programs, has launched a 24-hour fundraiser called “Hope for Adventure.” The campaign aims to raise funds for year-round programs that […]
ST. LANDRY PARISH — The countdown is on—but there’s still time to make a difference in the lives of Opelousas youth.
Hope for Opelousas, a local nonprofit dedicated to empowering children through mentorship, academics, and enrichment programs, has launched a 24-hour fundraiser called “Hope for Adventure.”
The campaign aims to raise funds for year-round programs that provide students with new experiences, leadership skills, and academic support.
Thanks to a generous $50,000 matching donation from the William C. Schumacher Family Foundation, every dollar donated will bematched up to $50,000, effectively doubling the impact of each contribution.
The organization has been expanding its reach, offering afterschool programs, summer camps, tutoring, mentoring, and leadership development opportunities to more students than ever before.
The fundraiser supports key programs such as Adventure Crew, Kids Across America Camp, and on-campus summer activities—initiatives that help students grow as leaders and dream beyond their circumstances.
“It builds one-on-one relationships with students—real relationships,” said Alyssa Daggs, a former student and current tutor with Hope for Opelousas. “They take us places we’ve never been before and help us dream big and set goals for ourselves.”
“Every dollar you donate supports local kids and makes a real impact,” added Co-founder and Executive director, Loren Carrier. “These programs are critical to the future of our youth.”
The fundraiser runs until midnight tonight. To donate click here
FCA Futures Camp fills Santa Maria High School with youth athletes | Photos | Youth Sports
Athletes across multiple sports, in grades 5 through 8, ended a four day camp hosted by the Fellowship of Christian Athletes at Santa Maria High School on Friday. See photos from the final day in this gallery. Nearly 300 local athletes and volunteers took part in a four-day Fellowship of Christian Athletes’ Futures Camp at […]
Athletes across multiple sports, in grades 5 through 8, ended a four day camp hosted by the Fellowship of Christian Athletes at Santa Maria High School on Friday. See photos from the final day in this gallery.
Nearly 300 local athletes and volunteers took part in a four-day Fellowship of Christian Athletes’ Futures Camp at Santa Maria High School this week. The camp was open to area youth in grades 5-8 and focused on building sports skills as well as learning about Christian values.
David DuBransky,Contributor
Local athletes worked on their soccer skills during this week’s Fellowship of Christian Athletes’ Futures Camp in Santa Maria. The camp was open to area youth in grades 5-8 and focused on building sports skills as well as learning about Christian values. More than 230 local youth and 50 volunteers participated in the four-day event.
David DuBransky,Contributor
Mentors and athletes meet in their huddle group during this week’s Fellowship of Christian Athletes’ Futures Camp in Santa Maria.
David DuBransky,Contributor
Local athletes worked on their flag football skills during this week’s Fellowship of Christian Athletes’ Futures Camp in Santa Maria.
David DuBransky,Contributor
Local high school athletes led area youth in small groups during this week’s Fellowship of Christian Athletes’ Futures Camp in Santa Maria.
David DuBransky,Contributor
Rocky Barilone scissor kicks a soccer ball into the goal during this week’s Fellowship of Christian Athletes’ Futures Camp in Santa Maria.
David DuBransky,Contributor
Local baseballers listen to their huddle leaders during this week’s Fellowship of Christian Athletes’ Futures Camp in Santa Maria.
David DuBransky,Contributor
Local athletes developed their basketball skills during this week’s Fellowship of Christian Athletes’ Futures Camp in Santa Maria.
David DuBransky,Contributor
Local athletes work on their wrestling moves during this week’s Fellowship of Christian Athletes’ Futures Camp in Santa Maria.
David DuBransky,Contributor
Local athletes honed their golf skills during this week’s Fellowship of Christian Athletes’ Futures Camp in Santa Maria.
David DuBransky,Contributor
Local athletes focused on their volleyball skills during this week’s Fellowship of Christian Athletes’ Futures Camp in Santa Maria.
David DuBransky,Contributor
Local athletes worked on their soccer skills during this week’s Fellowship of Christian Athletes’ Futures Camp in Santa Maria.
David DuBransky,Contributor
Local athletes developed their pickleball skills during this week’s Fellowship of Christian Athletes’ Futures Camp in Santa Maria.
David DuBransky,Contributor
Local softball players take a break following their skills lesson during this week’s Fellowship of Christian Athletes’ Futures Camp in Santa Maria.
David DuBransky,Contributor
Pastor Ace Concepcion delivers some sound Biblical advice to area youth during this week’s Fellowship of Christian Athletes’ Futures Camp in Santa Maria.
David DuBransky,Contributor
Local athletes developed their basketball skills during this week’s Fellowship of Christian Athletes’ Futures Camp in Santa Maria.
David DuBransky,Contributor
Local baseballers race across the football field at Santa Maria High School during this week’s Fellowship of Christian Athletes’ Futures Camp in Santa Maria.
David DuBransky,Contributor
Local athletes worked on their flag football skills during this week’s Fellowship of Christian Athletes’ Futures Camp in Santa Maria.
David DuBransky,Contributor
Local athletes developed their basketball skills during this week’s Fellowship of Christian Athletes’ Futures Camp in Santa Maria.
David DuBransky,Contributor
Local athletes meet in their huddle groups following a session on pickleball during this week’s Fellowship of Christian Athletes’ Futures Camp in Santa Maria.
David DuBransky,Contributor
Local athletes worked on their flag football skills during this week’s Fellowship of Christian Athletes’ Futures Camp in Santa Maria.
David DuBransky,Contributor
Local athletes listen to speaker Ace Concepcion during this week’s Fellowship of Christian Athletes’ Futures Camp in Santa Maria.
David DuBransky,Contributor
Local youth strengthened their pickleball skills with the help of area mentors during this week’s Fellowship of Christian Athletes’ Futures Camp in Santa Maria.
David DuBransky,Contributor
Local athletes focused on their softball skills during this week’s Fellowship of Christian Athletes’ Futures Camp in Santa Maria.
David DuBransky,Contributor
Local youth jog around the track at Santa Maria High during this week’s Fellowship of Christian Athletes’ Futures Camp.
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services investigating MSHSL for potential Title IX violations
ST. PAUL, Minn. (KTTC) – The U.S Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Office for Civil Rights (OCR) has started an investigation into the Minnesota Department of Education and the Minnesota State High School League. According to a press release by HHS, federal officials are investigating whether Minnesota engaged in discrimination on the basis […]
ST. PAUL, Minn. (KTTC) – The U.S Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Office for Civil Rights (OCR) has started an investigation into the Minnesota Department of Education and the Minnesota State High School League.
According to a press release by HHS, federal officials are investigating whether Minnesota engaged in discrimination on the basis of sex for allowing transgender athletes to compete in girls’ sports.
HHS officials say Minnesota is in violation of Title IX.
“Females cannot be relegated to the sidelines under Title IX,” said OCR Director Paula M. Stannard. “As a recipient of Federal funds, Title IX requires Minnesota to ensure fair and safe opportunities for females to compete on sex-segregated teams – regardless of state law obligations.”
Earlier this year, the MSHSL put out a statement stating participation in sports will continue to be determined by state law which allows students to participate in accordance with their gender identity.
Thursday OK Kids baseball state tournament scores | Sports
Three area youth baseball teams were in action in OK Kids 6-and-under T-Ball state tournament in Sallisaw OK Lookouts 21, Muldrow Hot Shots 0 8-and-under coach-pitch in Clinton Wister Wildcats 11, Anadarko Warriors 10 Blanchard Braves 16, Wister Wildcats 9 12-and-under in Weatherford Oklahoma Bandits 8, Washington Warriors 2 6-and-under T-Ball in Sallisaw OK Lookouts […]
Three area youth baseball teams were in action in OK Kids
6-and-under T-Ball state tournament in Sallisaw
OK Lookouts 21, Muldrow Hot Shots 0
8-and-under coach-pitch in Clinton
Wister Wildcats 11, Anadarko Warriors 10
Blanchard Braves 16, Wister Wildcats 9
12-and-under in Weatherford
Oklahoma Bandits 8, Washington Warriors 2
6-and-under T-Ball in Sallisaw
OK Lookouts vs. Blanchard Rangers 3:15 p.m., vs. TBD 7 p.m. Friday (with a loss) OR 10 a.m. Saturday (with a win); the Lookouts can reach the final four with two wins.
Wister Wildcats vs. Washington Warriors Benson-Vian Wolverines winner 5 p.m., vs. Sentinel Bulldogs-Mannford Bandits/Anadarko Warriors winner 8 p.m. (with a win); the Wildcats need two wins to advance to the final six on Saturday, starting at 11 a.m. and that third win to reach the final four.
12-and-under in Weatherford
Oklahoma Bandits vs. Navajo Indians 5 p.m., vs. Elgin Boyz-Altus Bulldogs loser 7 p.m. (with a win); the Bandits need two wins to reach the final four on Saturday, which begins at 11 a.m.
Highlighting Our Partners: #WeRideTogether | Johns Hopkin Center for Injury Research and Policy
Visit the #weridetogether website Tell us about the work that #WeRideTogether does. MC: Our mission is to make the youth and amateur sport environment safer for all athletes. We believe sport should be the safest and healthiest place for children and young adults to grow and flourish, and that every individual has the right to […]
MC: Our mission is to make the youth and amateur sport environment safer for all athletes. We believe sport should be the safest and healthiest place for children and young adults to grow and flourish, and that every individual has the right to learn, play, and compete without fear of sexual abuse. #WeRideTogether is committed to creating the radical change needed to fulfill that vision by addressing education and awareness, creating a safe place for survivors to find resources and share their voices, and eliminating the stigma around these necessary conversations.
#WeRideTogether strives to continuously advocate for safe, healthy, and fun sport. We believe in empowering every member of athletic communities with abuse prevention resources and safeguarding education and best practices, as well as ensuring that survivors and their loved ones have access to athlete-, survivor-, and trauma- informed resources that can support them in their unique healing journey.
To date, our team has worked to scale #WeRideTogether, founded in 2021, into an organization that supports all athletes at every level of sport, internationally, with simple, tangible abuse prevention resources and palatable safeguarding education. In 2024, #WeRideTogether directly supported over 300,000 athletes, coaches, and parents, 23 organizations, and 2 International Federations. This year, #WeRideTogether was proud to form a partnership with Sports Integrity Australia, branching key #WRT resources into Australia’s safeguarding education and training materials.
What has your organization done that has been the most interesting to you?
MC: At #WeRideTogether, we provide evidence-based, professional, educational, ethical, compassionate, creative, inclusive, celebratory, and advocatory services. Heart-centered and mind-driven, our team commits to improving sport communities in a sustainable and socially responsible manner. By focusing on current research, integrating insights from our trusted partners, and, most importantly, listening to athletes and survivors across all sports, #WeRideTogether delivers trustworthy and timely solutions. For example, our team created a resource called the C.A.R.D. Diagrams. These diagrams serve as a “gut check,” and can help individuals discern between healthy and unhealthy coach-athlete relationship dynamics.
Tell us about a project that #WeRideTogether is working on.
MC: One project that we are very excited about is a collaboration we have with the Sports Equity Lab. The Sports Equity Lab at Stanford has partnered with #WeRideTogether to break the IOC Consensus statement: interpersonal violence and safeguarding in sport down into bite-sized chunks. The result of this collaboration is The People’s Guide to the 2024 IOC Safeguarding Consensus, which unpacks and expands critical points from the Consensus. This dissemination project will provide 10 modules highlighting key takeaways from the 2024 IOC Consensus with visuals, activities, and social content that can be tangibly applied and integrated into sports communities. This 10-part series aligns with the values and missions of the Sports Equity Lab at Stanford and #WeRideTogether to promote awareness, eliminate inequities, and provide everyone with accessible information on positive values and best practices to keep sports healthy and athletes thriving.
How have you partnered with Johns Hopkins School of Public Health?
MC: The team at BSPH has consistently provided us with essential feedback on many of our key projects, like our Preventing Misconduct PSA series. Additionally, in 2024, our team was proud to sign on to a Dear Colleague Letter in partnership with colleagues at BSPH that was used to advocate for increased funding for the CDC Injury Center’s Division of Violence Prevention to research child sexual abuse prevention.
Tell us a fun fact about your organization.
MC: #WeRideTogether started as a viral video campaign in the equestrian community — and grew into a nonprofit that tackles sexual abuse prevention across all sports, at every level, around the world.
What is unique about your structure?
MC: We pride ourselves in our ability to translate incredible research being done in the abuse prevention space into simple, tangible tools and resources for coaches, parents, athletes, and organizations.
What can other similar organizations learn from you?
MC: At #WeRideTogether, we like to say that we all have a role to play in creating and maintaining safe and healthy athletic environments. As organizations within and adjacent to our space continue to collaborate and intentionally de-silo, we are able to amplify each other’s voices and efforts, resulting in more impactful, sustainable results long term.
What would you like our readers to know about your work?
MC: Our safeguarding education and abuse prevention resources are completely free. Anyone is able to utilize our content and bring it to their unique athletic space. Additional pro bono services include:
Policy Consultation/Creation
Supplemental Support
Content Support
Education Creation (paired with athlete focus groups)
In-person, Virtual, Recorded Training
Event and Competition Support
Custom Merchandise
Video Creation/Consultation
What is your goal for 2025?
MC: One of our goals is to continue building out partnerships into new athletic spaces and listening to the needs of all types of athletes to ensure our content is as informed as possible.
Inside the plan to build a destination for women’s soccer — Waterbury Roundabout
The Green has a solid foundation on which to rest ambitions for a second team. Vermont led the nation in youth sports participation in the most recent measure by the federally funded and directed National Survey of Children’s Health: 69% of kids ages 6-17 played on a sports team or took lessons in 2022, well […]
The Green has a solid foundation on which to rest ambitions for a second team. Vermont led the nation in youth sports participation in the most recent measure by the federally funded and directed National Survey of Children’s Health: 69% of kids ages 6-17 played on a sports team or took lessons in 2022, well above the national average of 54%.
Vermont families have 46 competitive clubs and 51 recreational programs to choose from under the Vermont Soccer Association, the state’s arm of U.S. Youth Soccer. When Andrew Minnis joined the state org as executive director last December, he looked to collaborate with the Green’s founders right away.
“A big push of mine since I came in has been really trying to bridge the gap of southern Vermont,” Minnis said.
Clubs under the association are more abundant in and around Chittenden County, with less access to youth soccer south of Montpelier, he said.
The association’s partnership with U.S. Youth Soccer’s Europe branch, announced last month, holds promise for an exchange of knowledge overseas that could help coaches add teams to Vermont’s inventory, Minnis said.
At the moment, when teens surpass the challenge of local clubs, their paths upward become more sparse. Players can be selected for Vermont’s Olympic Development Program with the chance to represent their state, region or country but have few options outside those rosters.
In high school, the Green’s Liv White commuted three hours from her hometown of Pittsford to play with New England Mutiny, a Massachusetts club, she said on “The Women’s Game.” When coaching local clubs, White’s teammate Lauren DeGroot sees that routes to elite teams lead kids out of Vermont.
“These girls are super talented, and we’re able to see that from such a young age, and it’s unfortunate that you see those girls and you feel like you’re doing them a disservice cause there aren’t those opportunities,” she said. “You think, ‘Can we send them down to Massachusetts, Jersey, so they can get that? Cause they aren’t getting it here.’”
Female footballers of the Green’s caliber are still looking elsewhere for off-season training.
“I have to drive an hour and 15 minutes to Quebec to play soccer over the summer,” said Sydney Remington, a UVM player, of her training without the Green.
Green forward Erin Flurey closed shop that night, poking in a loose ball to slash Blainville’s 1–0 lead and chipping the keeper in a bold signoff for a 2–1 win. The women’s exhibition team concluded year two undefeated.
(via @benrosstweets/X, KRON4)
