Team First Foundation

CINCINNATI BASKETBALL In 2023, basketball players from University of Cincinnati participated in a number of programs including Oyler School Mentorship Sessions (3 sessions) Cincinnati Basketball players attended 3 mentorship sessions as part of the Oyler Schools Alfred Hampton Mentoring Program. During each visit (lasting between 1 & 2 hours), each player was matched up 1:1 or 1:2 with children from grades K-8 for individual 30-min mentoring sessions. The students were able to select the activity that they did with their player mentors, including reading stories, playing educational games, working on classwork from core classes, word games (crosswords, word searches, etc.), puzzles, or group games such as Uno & Headbands. Throughout the years programming, UC Basketball players mentored over 30 Oyler School students. Reading Camp in partnership with Queen City Book Bank Cincinnati Football & Basketball players attended a 4-day reading camp at the Queen City Book Bank designed to help 20 youth & adult participants learn to read. Players assisted with vocabulary / spelling exercises, read to the group, & practiced reading comprehension with the participants using activity workbooks provided by QCBB. Tri-State Impact Camp 655 participants attended this youth basketball camp for local youth (1st -8th grade) hosted by the current UC Basketball team, who were also joined by players from Xavier, Northern Kentucky, Miami OH & Dayton. Camp consisted of basketball drills, games, team building activities/life skills, lunch, and team photo opportunities. Each participant also received an event t-shirt. Connor Kids Academy Cincinnati Basketball players served as coaches / counselors during a 3-day program for 55 boys in grades 5-7, hosted on their home court at Fifth Third Arena. Throughout the event, UC players led on-court basketball activities & team-building exercises in addition to assisting with educational programs in a classroom setting. Classroom lessons included personal hygiene, healthy habits, making good choices, etc. Colins Summer Slam Cincinnati Basketball players served as guest coaches for Colins Summer Slam, a 2-day summer basketball camp for 40 children & adults with mental disabilities. Hosted at Colins Lodge in Dayton, the UC players led on-court basketball activities & team-building exercises for the participants. In addition, players helped judge the participant Dance Contest, played in a cornhole tournament, and took photos with award winners! Queen City Book Bank 2-Year Anniversary Celebration Cincinnati Basketball players attended a celebratory gala for Queen City Book Bank to celebrate their 2-year anniversary in their current building. Players mingled with attendees (children & adults) & partners of QCBB, in addition to helping work stations such as: story- telling, t-shirt handouts, & book giveaways. Ody Oguama (UC player) also delivered remarks to the group sharing his positive experience of working with QCBB throughout his college career. The event was attended by 200+ adult and children. Crosstown Collaborative Youth Basketball Holiday Camp 120 participants attended this free youth basketball camp for local under resourced youth (1st -6th grade) hosted by the current UC Basketball team. Camp consisted of basketball drills, games, team building activities/life skills, lunch, and team photo opportunities. Each participant received an event t-shirt as well. Attendees were sourced with local nonprofit organizations including Cincinnati Rec Centers, Friars Club, United Heroes League, Most Valuable Kids, & Make A Wish. International Community Ambassador Program (Simas Lukosius) Simas Lukosius, an international player from Lithuania currently playing at UC, participated in a number of mission-based TFF events & activations. Because international student-athletes are not able to do active work within the US, the majority of Simas events were virtual. - Production Session: recorded 5 videos of Motivational Messaging for children to be used during future TFF events with UC players over the course of several different virtual production sessions. - Virtual Oyler School Visits: Simas joined 2 different Zoom calls with ~10 total students from the Oyler Schools mentorship program and did a virtual Q&A session with the kids. Similar to his teammates, he talked with them about the importance of school & literacy even while playing college basketball at a high level. - In-Person Basketball Camp: while overseas in The Bahamas, Simas attended 2 different local youth basketball camp for 50+ participants EACH operated by the Bahamian governments sports / recreation department. During camp, Simas interacted with the campers and assisted in teaching basketball skills and drills in addition to a Q&A with campers.

Other work consists of similar programs as noted above put on with additional college sports programs.