WASHINGTON - Athletes for Hope (AFH) is proud to announce the launch of its AFH University program at American University (AU), set to empower student-athletes to become leaders in community engagement and social impact.

The AFH University program at American will provide student-athletes with valuable tools and opportunities to leverage their platforms for positive change. Through educational workshops, leadership development, and facilitated volunteer opportunities, student-athletes will gain skills that benefit them both in and out of their sport. 

The partnership officially kicked off on August 6 with an AFH Empowerment workshop for the American University men’s basketball team, marking the beginning of a transformative journey for the university’s student-athletes. AFH facilitated a second Empowerment Workshop with women’s soccer on August 23 and in addition to these two teams, AFH U will work with women’s basketball, women’s lacrosse and wrestling this upcoming fall semester.

“We’re thrilled to bring the AFH University program to American,” said AFH CEO Jason Belinkie. “This collaboration will equip American’s student-athletes with the resources and opportunities to make a significant impact in their community while developing crucial leadership skills that will serve them throughout their athletic careers and beyond.”

AFH’s goals for this program is to empower American University student-athletes by connecting them with local community partners and guiding them in discovering the causes they are passionate about. This initiative will provide impactful volunteer opportunities, enabling students to use their skills and passion to meet genuine community needs. AFH is committed to supporting the ongoing community efforts of American student-athletes with partners like DC Central Kitchen and Potomac Conservancy, while also introducing them to new organizations.

“Our student-athletes are passionate about being active in the community around us, and this partnership with Athletes for Hope will help align those opportunities for them to help make a difference,” said AU’s Director of Athletics & Recreation JM Caparro. “As a department, we want to build leaders both on and off the field of play, and I appreciate Jason and his team for playing a pivotal role in the development of our student-athletes.”

The AFH University program at American adds to the organization’s growing presence in the Washington D.C., Maryland, and Virginia (DMV) area, which includes existing programs at Georgetown University, Howard University, and Bowie State University. This expansion creates opportunities for collaborative impact across the region’s universities.

To learn more about the AFH University program, please visit our program page.

For media inquiries, please contact:

Kylie Barlowe at kbarlowe@athletesforhope.org. 

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About Athletes for Hope

Founded by Muhammad Ali, Andre Agassi, Mia Hamm, and nine other elite athletes in 2006, Athletes for Hope (AFH) is a national non-profit that educates, encourages, and empowers athletes to find their passions and use their time to positively engage with their communities. Over the past 18 years, AFH has educated more than 12,000 professional, Olympic, Paralympic, and collegiate athletes through its Causeway workshop series, and helped athletes volunteer with hundreds of underserved schools and impactful community organizations. Through their dedication and passion for doing good, AFH athletes have positively impacted the lives of millions around the world.