Willie Green Foundation

Mission:

The Willie Green Foundation (WGF) is a non-profit organization founded by NBA star and Detroit, Michigan native, Willie Green. Our overall mission is to enrich as well as strengthen the academic, athletic, cultural, social, and career interests of the youth (and their families) who come from communities challenged by violence, economic underdevelopment, and chronic unemployment.

Although the WGF is a relatively new foundation (established in 2006) the organization plans to meet its goals by raising money and awareness for programs that will identify and 'positively' exploit the often, overlooked human potential of those youth identified as "at-risk" and prepare them to be successful and progressive thinking leaders in the areas of business, government, politics, education, and entrepreneurship. We also plan to re-assess certain sectors of a community that are considered "lost" or "abandoned" with the intention of creating businesses and or jobs that will offer members of the community hope and opportunities for economic development.

The WGF would love to establish itself as a national and perhaps international organization that supports people from all walks of life from all over the world. However, at this time we are not in a position to reach that many communities. Therefore, we start our journey of giving at the very beginning by assisting people from the regions we know the best.

The Willie Green Foundation (WGF) is a tax-exempt, 501(c)(3) organization. All funding is provided through fundraising, solicitation and direct contributions from Willie Green. Willie Green finances nearly all administrative costs allowing beneficiaries to receive maximum benefit from your valued contributions.

Some of the programs sponsored by the WGF include:

The Willie Green Student to Student Cultural Exchange Program
The Student to Student Cultural Exchange Program is one of the highlight programs sponsored by the Willie Green Foundation. The program seeks to bring students from Philadelphia together with students from Detroit for a cultural and educational exchange. This annual program begins by the Willie Green Foundation officials selecting one group of high school students from each city at the start of the school year.Each group of students are required to begin a journal of their high school and community experiences as well as highlight their favorite cultural aspects of their lives, their neighborhoods, and their cities.

When Willie and the Philadelphia 76ers return to his hometown of Detroit to play the Detroit Pistons during the regular NBA season, the students from Philadelphia will travel by bus to Detroit where they will stay overnight in Detroit. During their trip, they will connect with students from Detroit and share in a round-table discussion about life as a young person and hear about their experiences growing up in a Midwest urban city. Visiting students from Philadelphia will also take a tour of Detroit's cultural sights including the Charles H. Wright African- American History Museum in addition to watching the 76ers play the Detroit Pistons with tickets provided by the Willie Green Foundation.

Of course the cultural experience and student-to-student interaction is reciprocated when the Detroit Pistons (or some other selected team) visits Philadelphia to play the Philadelphia 76ers. This time, it is Detroit area students who come and visit Philadelphia by bus. They are hosted by Philadelphia high school students for a student-to -student exchange before setting off for a tour of cultural history in Philadelphia that will include a tour of African-American History Museum of Philadelphia. They will also be treated to an overnight hotel stay in Philadelphia and tickets to the 76ers home basketball game courtesy of the Willie Green Foundation.

Annual Willie's Week Community Programs
During the 2nd week of August each summer, the WGF offers a variety of annual community outreach programs including a basketball day camp in Detroit for over 300 children, a "Bowling for Scholars" event, followed by a Celebrity Golf Outing.The latter two events help the foundation raise money for additional programs and educational scholarships for the citizens of Detroit and Philadelphia.

The WGF has also welcomed partnerships and collaborations with organizations such as the Philadelphia 76ers, Police Athletic League, the School District of Philadelphia, and Greater Grace Baptist Church in Detroit.

Grantmaking Objectives:

At this time, the WGF can only consider grant proposals, provide assistance, and develop outreach initiatives for our friends, family, and neighbors who reside in the Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (Delaware Valley) and Detroit, Michigan regions. As we continue to grow through partnerships with members of the business sector and receive donations from individuals, we hope to consider other communities in need.

For more information about the foundation or to inquire about appearances, partnerships, or a grant/donation from Willie Green and the Willie Green Foundation visit www.williegreen33.com and click on the "Foundation" link for procedures.


Geographic Areas Served:   

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (Delaware Valley); Detroit, Michigan

Revenues:  

$

Grants Disbursed:

$

Net Assets:      

$

Willie Green Foundation Website


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