University of Georgia football has been played since 1892. Today was my first first experience watching the DAWGS play live at Sanford Stadium. My wife and I celebrated our 15 year anniversary in the cold with over 90,000 fans.
We started the morning with breakfast in Athens at Momma Boy’s then headed to the stadium for the DAWG Walk Tradition.
As I sat in the stadium in awe, I began to think about the tradition of the university and how thousands of people have ties to the school for generations. I also noticed the corporate support of the DAWGS that make them beyond a “local college football team”. The Bulldogs are a national brand.
My wife was born in Atlanta but raised in Athens so today was sort of a homecoming for her. We established our family non-profit organization L.E.A.D., Inc. in 2007 to provide at-risk inner city Atlanta males with access to higher education and civic engagement through baseball. It is our vision to engage Atlanta based companies to help us to continue to increase the high school graduation rate of African-American males from the current 34%. To date, 100% of our L.E.A.D. Ambassadors have graduated from high school while they all enroll in college with over 90% of receiving college scholarship opportunities.
L.E.A.D. can’t improve 100% but we can serve more students. L.E.A.D. currently serves 350 students annually with year round programming. UGA serves about the same number of student athletes with it’s year round programming as well.
One day, we will have the financial support of Chick-fil-A, Georgia Power, Delta, Home Depot, and State Farm. Until then, we will continue our tradition of excellence in the inner city of Atlanta with the partnership of Atlanta Public Schools.
When L.E.A.D. wins, Atlanta wins!
