While it’s important to excel on the field, it’s also extremely important to excel off the field. Being a student athlete, it can be tough to stay on top of schoolwork and not get behind. After all, that might not be the first thing on their mind. But it is important, as being in school teaches you more than just how to solve a math problem. Beyond Sports Foundation focuses on both aspects of the equation.
Beyond Sports Foundation is a nonprofit based in the Chicagoland area that focuses on assisting student-athletes from under-resourced communities. With the help of the staff, the foundation gives athletes the opportunity to gain and accelerate skills to help them enter and excel in both college, as well as for life beyond sports.
Between 10-15 student athletes in grades 8th-11th are accepted each year. To be considered, each candidate must apply and provide a demonstrated financial need and currently be playing a sport on a high school team.
Since 2009, 100% of high school student athletes become scholarship ready and enroll in college, 96% of student athletes are offered and accepted a scholarship, and 88% of student athletes complete college. Some of the academic resources available include individualized tutoring, monitoring of academic progress, as well as an ACT tutoring program.
Alongside academic, Beyond Sports also focuses on social responsibility through scheduled community service activities. While this foundation focuses on helping athletes, it’s also important for them to know the impact of giving back. Any community service goes a long way and it’s amazing to see them helping them in a way that’s more than both on the field and in the classroom.
Beyond Sports Foundation also has a number of different sponsors that focus on athletes’ success. Some the sponsors include local brands like EFT Sports Performance, Serve Illinois and Foot Locker Chicago and national brands like Gatorade and the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
Director of Education & Professional Development Carrie Madden oversees all academic and professional development programming for Beyond Sports foundation. Madden earned her Master’s in Secondary Education from DePaul University and a Bachelor’s in History and American Studies from the University of Iowa. Prior to joining the team, she worked as the Education Director for Youth Conservation Corps in Waukegan, Illinois. Madden has spent over 10 years working in different education conditions. Since 2018, she ensures that all student athletes within the program make sure they reach their fullest potential.
It’s amazing to see an organization that focuses on more than just one’s physical talent. As much as one can do to succeed on the field, it’s what they do off the field that matters and will translate later in life. While the game might seem like everything, in the big picture it isn’t. There is more beyond sports, and those are the skills that are going to make a difference.
To learn more, go to https://www.beyondsports.org
