WSSU siblings establish non-profit for at-risk groups

Two Winston-Salem State students, a sister and brother, have created a non-profit organization, "Hoops 4 LYFE"-- Low-income Youth and Families Everywhere.

Founders Brittany Ward, 28, and Joel Ward, 27, started the Hoops 4 LYFE organization in 2011. The acronym stands for Low-income Youth and Families Everywhere. Both students are pursuing a master’s of art degrees in teaching and plans to graduate next spring.

The organization provides mentors, hosts fundraisers, advises parents and encourages healthy living.

Hoops 4 LYFE also offers a summer camp basketball program.

"A lot of people say they don’t have the resources so we bring the resources to them," Brittany said.

"We inform them of services provided by social services, churches and local people willing to help out. That way they don’t have excuse."

Brittany, a former substitute teacher for Quality Education Institute, said she recruits children everywhere she goes. She said her inspiration for Hoops 4 LYFE grew from her involvement with the Communities in Schools program.

Hoops 4 LYFE targets students in grades K-12 attending Title I schools. A Title I schools is federally funded school where low-income students risk academic failure.

"All we knew [growing up] was basketball,"Joel said.

Their parents and other members of the family played basketball.

"It [basketball] kept us out of trouble."

In October, Hoops 4 LYFE hosted a Breast Cancer Awareness Basketball Tournament in honor of Tony Byrd, a friend whose mother died from the disease.

Five teams played in the tournament and a team was eliminated each round. A trophy was given to the No.1 team. Both Byrd and Joel were members of the winning team.

"Everyone wanted to come out and support me in honoring my mother. We were balling for a cause," Byrd said.

"We want to let people know we support them."

All the players that came out for the event are friends of one another and grew up together playing different sporting events. Some of the participants have their own organizations as well.

"We’re all a big family," Joel said. "It’s not about the competition; it’s about doing something for a cause."

The profits for the event will be donated to WSSU alumna, India Myers, who is battling breast cancer. Hoops 4 LYFE is planning to surprise her with its gift donation.

"She’s an alumni and a friend of mine," Brittany said.

"I wanted to help her with her bills because she is already battling cancer and doesn’t need another fight. The whole point was to find someone in need, so I feel like we’re making a difference."

Hoops 4 LYFE has plans to donate for Thanksgiving, a toy drive and other events.

The organization can be contacted on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/Hoops4LYFE.