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Through basketball Coach Bill Self has had
the opportunity to meet and interact with thousands of young
people across the country. In doing so, he has observed the difference
that caring adults, adequate education, and accessible athletic
facilities can make in the lives of these students. It
is the desire to help improve the communities that our youth
live in that lead him to create Assists.
In
June 2006, Coach Self and his wife, Cindy, established the
Assists Foundation, a 501(c)(3) organization to serve as
a fundraising conduit for organizations that serve a variety
of youth initi atives.
The
Assists Foundation has made significant strides in a very
short period of time. With the help of very generous
friends and corporations, over a third of a million dollars
has been raised, and several value-in-kind contributions
have been received that allow Assists to build reserves for
very big, very exciting, overdue projects and make anonymous
gifts throughout the community. This early success
sets the bar high for each new year.
The
Assists Late Night weekend event is the foundation’s
signature fundraising event; it is chalked full of activity
for 10 friends, who have the opportunity to spend the
basketball tip-off weekend with Coach Self and the rest of
the Jayhawk men’s basketball program as honorary coaches. The
experience is designed to give them an idea of what it is
like to be the coach of the Jayhawks.
These
friends have made a generous donation to support the mission
of the Foundation. Their contributions combined with
the additional gifts received will benefit the youth of Lawrence
and Kansas who need access to additional healthy lifestyle
resources, programming, and facilities.
The Assists
Foundation is thankful to have friends who believe in to the need to improve
the quality of life for the youth of our community and share in a
passion for the Jayhawks. None of this would be possible without these
contributions and confidence. Assists is greatly appreciative for both.
The mission of Assists is to help provide young people access
to better lives. We accomplish this by identifying
areas of need and working with other community-based institutions
to provide creative and  lasting solutions. Through
Assists, folks can make a difference in the everyday lives
of young people.
The Self’s and several friends have made a generous
donations to support the mission of the Foundation. Their
contributions combined with the additional gifts received
will benefit the youth of Lawrence and Kansas who need access
to additional healthy lifestyle resources, programming, and
facilities. |
