CREW LIFE ANNUAL PROGRAMS
What we offer at Crew Life
COLLEGE TOURS
CREW Life provides a college tour for 40 disadvantaged students from the Fort Wayne, Indiana area. These students have absent parents (single parent or no-parent homes) or parents who work multiple jobs and cannot or give their students the opportunity to see colleges and learn about education beyond high school. Our goal is to allow each student to experience universities so that they can set goals for themselves, whether that be university, trade school, or the military. We mentor each of the students through high school and help them achieve their goals, supplementing overwhelmed school counseling efforts. We hope to expand to more tours in the future.
CREW LIFE BACK TO SCHOOL DRIVE
Each fall, CREW Life holds a backpack drive that provides 150 backpacks full of needed school supplies to students in the Fort Wayne, Indiana area. In addition, we partner with Smooth Kutz Barbershop to offer free back-to-school haircuts. The barbershop was owned by a mentor of Raphael who had been incarcerated for 30 years. He was there 18 years and did wonders for the community. He passed away during Covid and this is a way to honor him.
CREW LIFE YOUTH CAMPS
CREW Life organizes 12-15 sports camps per year in Indiana, Illinois, and Georgia. Sports offered are basketball, gymnastics, football, and cheerleading. While our goal is to give the best instruction possible, we also work to build discipline, hard work, mental toughness, listening skills, teamwork, and time management within our campers. Each camp we have a guest speaker representing a professional career path to encourage the kids and represent life outside of sports. We have created a scholarship fund for families who fit the following categories: Free or reduced school lunch, live in an at-risk zip code, or single and/or incarcerated parents.
MENTORING PROGRAM
Crew Life's mentorship program is designed to support at-risk youth aged 7-18 in the Fort Wayne area, as well as those in need of positive mentorship. Throughout the program we will provide a range of opportunities and support to help these young individuals thrive and succeed.
Regular school behavior and grade check-ins will be conducted to monitor the progress of the youth, with additional support provided through tutoring for those struggling academically. Attendance will also be closely monitored, and our counselors will engage with the youth through monthly lunches at school to build strong relationships and offer support.
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As a culminating experience, selected youth will have the opportunity to visit the Big Ten Network Studios in Chicago, providing them with a unique and inspiring glimpse into the world of media and sports broadcasting. Through this comprehensive program, we aim to empower and support the youth in our community, fostering their personal growth and future success.