Youth Programs

Athletes C.A.R.E. for Kids was established to work with children living in “at-risk” environments.  In this program a well-know athlete volunteers their time to encourage children to excel in the classroom as well as in athletics.  Each speaker captures the children’s attention by their on-the-field accomplishments, but it is the athlete’s off-the-field achievements that are stressed.  This program has expanded to include athletes from a vast variety of sports who speak to groups of youth ages 6-18 years from a myriad of backgrounds, yet still places a priority on serving those who live in at-risk communities.  Each athlete addresses the group by touching on his or her personal experiences, obstacles, successes, goals and, most importantly, the dangers of drugs and gangs.

Sport Yourself is modeled after the Athlete Outreach program, and was designed to fill a void in sports-related, self-improvement/mentoring programs for girls and young women in schools and communities.  Female athletes work with groups of young women, focusing on gender-specific issues such as teenage pregnancy/dating violence, proper hygiene/nutrition, body image issues and self confidence.  The goal of this program is to team positive female role models with young women ages 9-18 years, from at-risk facilities such as Orangewood Children’s Home, Girls Inc. and the Boys and Girls Clubs.  Each visit is planned to educate young women about the importance of developing self-confidence and the courage to make the right decisions in life, which is often achieved by participating in sports and other physical activities.

Career Choices is designed for high school adolescents as a unique program that highlights the wide variety of off-the-field sports careers that young people can pursue, such as management, marketing, publicity, accounting and legal services.  The program brings well-known executives and behind-the-scenes experts from the sports industry to the Museum, where they describe their work and offer suggestions of exciting ways to be involved in the wider world of sports.  Many of these mentors arrange behind-the-scenes tours of professional and collegiate athletic facilities where the youngsters can experience first-hand the excitement of working in the business side of sports.

Legacy Leadership Project engages Pro Football Hall of Fame members to volunteer their time mentoring an aspiring high school football player, encouraging them to finish high school, building the leadership skills to play at the college level, and helping them develop skills to make positive life choices on and off the field.  This mentoring relationship includes the inspirational qualities of a visit to Canton with the Hall of Fame mentor during the annual Pro Football Hall of Fame Enshrinement Ceremonies where student athletes and their coaches will have exclusive access to events to meet members of the PFHOF.