ABOUT IOWA YOUTH
ATHLETIC FOUNDATION
Based in Ames, Iowa Youth Athletics Foundation is a non-profit organization that provides facilities and financial aid for youth athletic programs that develop and inspire the next generation of leaders. Our goal is to partner with programs to help boys and girls be disciplined and to work hard while emphasizing fundamental skills necessary to succeed in all areas of life…not just in athletics.
MEET OUR BOARD MEMBERS
Stopping domestic violence before it begins.
Following the tragic murder of Jamie Kimble, one who had abundantly demonstrated love, compassion, strength and courage to all who knew her, her parents created this foundation in her honor and to help those in an often hard to see situation.
Our mission is to create a future without domestic violence. To make that possible, we are dedicated to funding initiatives with defined outcomes that prevent domestic violence, intervening in potentially abusive situations involving young adults, and encouraging community-wide engagement around preventing domestic violence.
Faith. Family. Football.
In the wake of the tragic taking of Coach Ed Thomas, his wife, Jan, and their sons, Aaron and Todd, have established the Ed Thomas Family Foundation.
The purpose of the Ed Thomas Family Foundation is to continue the legacy of Ed Thomas by providing opportunities to young adults through scholarships, maintain and up-keep of facilities, and more importantly, spreading the message of God's word.
"Let me win. But if I cannot win, Let me be brave in the attempt."
Special Olympics Iowa (SOIA) is a nonprofit organization that serves athletes with intellectual disabilities in all 99 counties of the state. Iowa has 11 areas throughout the state that serve approximately 12,000 athletes.
Since 1968, Special Olympics Iowa has been serving the needs of children and adults with intellectual disabilities by providing sports training and competition in 23 Olympic-type sports. Through Special Olympics sports training and competition, children and adults with intellectual disabilities reach their POTENTIAL and experience INCLUSION in their communities EVERYDAY.
Dean and I can’t thank you enough for everything you have done for our girls, not to mention providing us with an opportunity to spend time with our girls and other wonderful people. We are so sad to see it come to an end with Abbey. It just seems like yesterday when Abbey and Lexi first started. They have grown so much personally and in basketball through All Iowa Attack and our family has built friendships that will last a lifetime so thank you again!
- Dean & Sara Albrecht (AIA parents)
When life kicks you, let it kick you forward.
Kay Yow was first diagnosed with breast cancer in 1987, and passed away on January 24, 2009, after facing her third bout with the disease. Before her death, she joined forces with the Women’s Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA) and The V Foundation for Cancer Research to form the Kay Yow Cancer Fund, a 501 (c)(3) charitable organization committed to being a part of finding an answer in the fight against women’s cancers through raising money for scientific research, assisting the undeserved and unifying people for a common cause.
With the creation of the Fund, Kay hoped to raise money to further cutting-edge research conducted by the nation’s top doctors and medical experts to allow more and more cancer patients to have access to experimental drugs. Additionally, Kay felt as if coaches not only shared a profession but a community. It is with this communal mentality that Kay, despite her humility, served as the platform to rally a nation of coaches to be a part of one team against one opponent – cancer.
Family-Centered Healing, Caring and Teaching
At Blank Children's Hospital, we embrace a family-centered care philosophy where families are recognized as the most important part of a child's healing process and are encouraged to be actively involved in patient care the constant in children's lives.
Our care philosophy has shown that children are less anxious, need less medication, and recover faster. Our hospital services a wide variety of needs and provides great care to children during a sometimes scary or confusing time for them.
Blank Children's Hospital has many needs and the kids in the hospitals love to be visited by other children in the community.
"Don't Give Up...Don't Ever Give Up!"
After being diagnosed with cancer at the young age of 46, Jim dreamed of finding cures for cancer. Passionate and committed, he wanted to see his fight through to victory. As a former coach, he began to recruit his team of family and friends to lead The Foundation in his quest to eradicate the disease.
Although Jim lost his battle with cancer less than two months after delivering the ESPY speech, his dream to find cures lives on through research grants bestowed in his name. The V Foundation has awarded more than $130 million to more than 120 facilities nationwide and proudly awards 100% of direct cash donations to cancer research and related programs.
Jim’s dream of finding cures for cancer is shared by millions. Although we have not yet achieved this goal, every day we get a little bit closer and continue to honor his inspiring words, “Don’t Give Up . . . Don’t Ever Give Up!”
WHO WE SUPPORT
First of all, I would just like to thank you for everything you do for young, dedicated athletes. You have a way of transforming average athletes (basketball players) into outstanding, hardworking, coachable, players. You have made All Iowa Attack into an incredible program which you already know, and I am blessed to have had the opportunity to play for all the coaches including yourself. I have met some amazing friends through your program, and have been able to compete at a high level to better myself.
Growing up, basketball has always been my passion; I was not “gifted” with incredible height, speed, or talent. But I was gifted with heart, and a mind full of dedication to go after what I want, and succeed at it. With that being said, I have put tremendous time and effort into the game to improve. I have bounced around from team to team to try to find the best fit. I would typically get my confidence taken away seeing players similar to myself succeed wondering why I haven’t. But that also gave me motivation to work that much harder.
I would just like to say thank you for the opportunities you have gave me through AIA, I have been able to travel the mid-west and east coast, meet new players, and watch my friends reach the same dream as myself. Some kids only wish to have done half of what I have through your program. AIA has done nothing but prepare me for what the future holds. I hope one day I can have the opportunity to mentor young athletes as you have done for me.
- Taylor Hickey (AIA class of 2015)