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Facts on the Dawn Staley Foundation
Olympic Gold Medalist and professional athlete Dawn M. Staley created the Dawn Staley Foundation in the fall of 1996. Staley, a Philadelphia native who grew up in north central Philadelphia, felt compelled to give something back to the community that enabled her to achieve success both on the basketball court and in life. The foundation's mission is to create a future of hope for at-risk youth by providing opportunities that help them realize their dreams and become productive and responsible citizens. The creation and support of educational and sports programs which challenge minds, build character, and help youth to develop to their fullest potential academically, socially and physically are the essence of the foundation. To achieve its mission, the foundation supports a variety of programs including an After School Program, Summer Basketball League and mentoring programs for girls, the Annual DSF Black Tie and Sneaker Gala, as well as "Day in the Park," an annual daylong community celebration in North Philadelphia.
The goals of the Dawn Staley Foundation are:
- To provide a safe environment for children residing in North Philadelphia so that they can enjoy spending quality time with their friends and family members.
- To provide positive programs for middle school girls in low-income communities in North Philadelphia, which emphasize the importance of education and encourage higher education.
- To use sports as a vehicle for developing leadership skills, discipline, self-esteem and teamwork.
The Dawn Staley Foundation After School Program is comprehensive in nature and is designed to empower young female participants by providing the necessary education and life skills to become productive and proactive community leaders. The multi-faceted program, which is administered by high quality staff members and volunteers, provides computer and reading programs, mentoring, tutoring, sport activities, field trips, health education workshops and community outreach projects.
Fifty girls, ages 11-14 who attend middle schools in North Philadelphia, participate in DSF After School Program each year, which runs concurrently with the school year. The After School Program utilizes a multi-year program design with the goal of graduating participants after three years of continuous involvement in the program. Since its inception in 1997, the program has served more than 600 minority and low-income middle school girls from North Philadelphia.
Read more about the After School Program
This is the newest addition to our programming and is an extension of the After School Program. The Leadership Academy's mission is to serve as a vehicle of engagement for our participants to develop their leadership skills. The program creates opportunities to encourage the development of integrity, character and self awareness, while providing avenues to impact their own lives as well as create an environment to impact their communities. We encourage our participants to foster collaborative relationships, set positive examples and lead the way in cultivating a new generation of leaders. The Leadership Academy gives the participants the skills, information, support and encouragement they need to cultivate and strengthen their leadership skills, which in turn will enable them to make sound decisions and to impact others in a positive manner.
The summer basketball league and mentoring program's mission is to use sports as a vehicle for developing leadership and social skills, instilling discipline and teaching the importance of teamwork and good sportsmanship. The league provides more than 100 girls per summer with organized games, developmental clinics, and mentoring sessions. Through this program, our quest is to provide opportunities for participants to develop healthy relationships with positive role models. To date, more than 700 predominantly African American female youth have participated in this program. The program has also served as a platform of entry for many of the girls who have participated in the After School Program.
The Day in the Park Celebration grew out of Dawn Staley's commitment to give back to her community. Its goal is to promote civic pride and family interaction in the North Philadelphia community. Since 1996, more than 2500 people attend the event annually and enjoy a full day of fun, free food, give-a-ways, music and entertainment.
The Dawn Staley Foundation Annual Black Tie & Sneaker Gala provides an opportunity for Dawn Staley to honor her fellow athletes and corporate partners who support our youth and are making a tremendous difference in their communities. The elegant evening includes dinner, awards and a live sports memorabilia auction. Proceeds from the gala benefit the Dawn Staley Foundation After School Program and Summer Basketball League and Mentoring Program for young girls in Dawn's hometown community.
Several professional athletes, entertainers, sport executives and community and business leaders attend the event each year. Bill Cosby, John Chaney, WNBA President Val Ackerman and the Temple Women’s Basketball Team are among the regulars. Past honorees include track legend Jackie Joyner Kersee, former Philadelphia Eagles players Troy Vincent and Brian Mitchell, Philadelphia Charge soccer player Lorrie Fair, Golf Digest senior writer Pete McDaniel, and WNBA Vice President of Player Personnel Renee Brown.
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