Collaboration Of Nonprofits Is Slam Dunk For Kids With Challenges

PINELLAS COUNTY, FL — A collaboration between the Clearwater nonprofit Hope Villages of America and The Basketball Warehouse Academy of Largo is paving the way for underprivileged children in Pinellas County to improve their academic performance, hone their basketball skills and foster positive role models that will help them succeed.

President and CEO Kirk Ray Smith of Hope Villages of America, formerly RCS Pinellas, says the partnership with The Basketball Warehouse Academy is destined to be a win-win for Pinellas County youth facing academic and social challenges.

The program will partner school-aged children staying at the Grace House shelter for woman and their children at 1552 S. Myrtle Ave., Clearwater, and the Goldsmith Gardens community housing project at 1520 N. Saturn Ave., Clearwater, with the basketball academy in Largo.

“Without question, there is a correlation between social challenges and academic performance," Smith said. "It’s also true that athletics are an excellent tool for the development of life and social skills. This partnership allows us to develop young people and provide a much-needed distraction from the challenges they’re facing.”

Noting that homeless families are one of the fastest-growing demographics Hope Villages serves in Pinellas County, Smith said the nonprofit works with more than 130,000 participants—or about 15 percent of the Pinellas County population.

“We help those in need who are the most vulnerable among us get back onto a path of self-sufficiency with dignity,” he said. “There are only 180 beds for homeless families in Pinellas County, which has a population of almost one million people. Hope Villages provides nearly half of those beds, and Grace House provides dignified apartment-style emergency shelter to homeless families with children for up to two months."

Grace House staff work one-on-one with families, providing case management, education, job readiness and helping guests save money to secure stable housing.

“We are proud to report that fully 90 percent of families who complete the program move to stable housing," Smith said.

Goldsmith Gardens provides affordable housing for families who sign a one-year lease as they transition to stable housing.

Overseeing both facilities, Hope Villages focuses on nurturing and developing the children in their programs as well as supporting their parents in finding employment and secure housing to return to self-sufficiency.

“Academic and athletic development opportunities for kids are just one of the diverse wraparound services we provide at HVA to help interrupt the cycle of poverty,” said Smith. “We support not only the whole person but the whole family to reach self-sufficiency.”

Located at 6360 118th Ave. N, Largo, The Basketball Warehouse’s mission is to provide student-athletes a safe, nurturing after-school environment that fosters individuality, a love for basketball and a delight in learning. It dovetails perfectly with Hope Village's approach, Smith said.

Through the partnership, the Basketball Warehouse will offer on-site academic support, enrichment opportunities and health/fitness activities through basketball clinics to the Grace House and Goldsmith Gardens student-athletes.

“Our motto at the warehouse has always been ‘do what you do,'" said Basketball Warehouse Coach Allen Williams. "Which basically means be the best version of yourself and do what you do best. We want to give these kids the opportunity to do what they do and be the best they can be.”

The Basketball Warehouse Academy was established in April 2011 to offer a place for kids to play basketball, get extra help in their classroom studies and do their homework after school. Co-founders Daryl Blume and Williams established the organization to provide tailored training programs that center around basketball to satisfy each student/athlete's individual needs in a positive, encouraging environment.

Throughout the years, The Basketball Warehouse Academy has grown into a respected non-profit organization and a popular destination for teens and tweens with a passion for athletics. The addition of programs, such as, summer camps, basketball clinics, travel teams and league play, have drawn a diverse group of youngsters to the academy.

“The environment at The Basketball Warehouse is one of diversity, integrating student-athletes from different schools, neighborhoods, economic and cultural backgrounds, encouraging them to work together in team activities and tutoring sessions to become better prepared for society,” said Smith. “Their programs are fun for our kids and also keep them safe and help them achieve success in school and life.”

Hope Villages of America (RCS), 1552 S. Myrtle Ave., Clearwater, was established in 1967 as a nonprofit organization that addresses the needs of the hungry, homeless and victims of domestic violence in Pinellas County. It now offers a food bank, basic life services, affordable housing, The Haven Domestic Violence Shelter and Grace House for homeless families. These programs operate in more than 60,000 square feet of service space in Clearwater and serve more than 130,000 participants annually throughout Pinellas County.

In 2019 RCS was awarded GuideStar’s Gold Seal of Transparency for the second year in a row and the Tampa Bay Beaches Chamber of Commerce Biggest Community Impact award.