Mike Alstott Family Foundation Sports Buddies Day
More than 300 “Bigs” and “Littles” to Meet Football Icon, Mike Alstott
Largo, FL– On Dec. 8, the Mike Alstott Family Foundation will be sponsoring the fifth annual “Mike Alstott Family Foundation Sports Buddies Day,” at Northside Christian School in St. Petersburg.
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Sports Buddies derived from the collaboration of three local Big Brothers Big Sisters agencies: Big Brothers Big Sisters of Pinellas, Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Suncoast, and Big Brothers Big Sisters of Tampa Bay.
This program consists of adult mentors that are paired with a child facing adversity in efforts to lead them to a successful future, while practicing the all-American sport we’ve grown to cherish indefinitely; football.
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This year, we celebrate the fifth anniversary of Sports Buddies Day as Mike Alstott will meet more than 300 “Bigs” and “Littles,” to create an unforgettable sporting experience for our matches. The attendees will participate in the Buccaneers Junior Gatorade Training Camp followed by an exclusive meet-and-greet and autograph opportunity with Mike Alsott.
Alstott is a former professional football player with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Throughout his 12-year career, he reached full potential as a record-breaker of several titles including becoming the first non-kicker in team history to surpass the 400-point plateau. Alstott’s athletic talent and work ethic deemed him a true leader in his division. Although football will always be his passion, serving the community has become his priority; hence the creation of the Mike Alstott Family Foundation.
The Foundation’s mission is to uplift the minds, hearts and spirits of families and children on their way to realizing their full potential through various events, assistance programs and celebrations. Naturally, with his strong commitment to civic duty Alstott was drawn to Big Brothers Big Sisters.
“I think the Sports Buddies program is a natural fit, I love kids and I love sports; what better way to combine them but in a setting that allows children to be mentored by a “Big” while they indulge in sports,” Alstott shared. “It has been an honor to be able to help.”
Sports Buddies provides opportunities for adults to help build friendships and model good sportsmanship while giving children the chance to experience sporting and recreational events that were more than likely once out of reach. The program promotes monthly activity relative to sports between “Bigs” and “Littles,” whether it’s watching a Bucs game at home or taking a trip to the batting cage.
“Over the past several years, I've personally seen the program make a positive impact on so many young lives,” added the former star athlete. “When children have a mentor to look up to it not only helps them succeed educationally, but in so many aspects daily life.”
Mike Alstott currently serves as the Honorary Chair for the Beef ‘O’ Brady’s Bowl, which will be held at Tropicana Field on Friday, Dec. 21. All “Bigs” and “Littles” at the Mike Alstott Family Foundation Sports Buddies Day will receive tickets to the Beef ‘O’ Brady’s Bowl.
About Big Brothers Big Sisters of Pinellas County and Big Brothers Big Sisters Tampa Bay
Big Brothers Big Sisters was founded in 1904, “when a young New York City court clerk named Ernest Coulter was seeing more and more boys come through his courtroom. He recognized that caring adults could help many of these kids stay out of trouble, and he set out to find volunteers.” That instance deemed the creation of a story that would live on forever, through Big Brothers Big Sisters.
The Big Brothers Big Sisters mission stands to provide children facing adversity with caring mentors who help present individual life guidance and educational support. Connecting similarly motivated individuals and organizations and creating a foundation for success are characteristics the agencies prides themselves on. The three outcomes hoped to accomplish through the BBBS program are: greater confidence, avoidance of risky behavior and educational achievement.
The organization is heavily dependent on donations in order to recruit volunteers and serve more children. Funding is used to conduct complex background checks on volunteers to ensure child safety and provide ongoing support for “Bigs”, “Littles” and their families to build and sustain long-lasting relationships. The Big Brothers Big Sisters program is proven to improve children’s odds for succeeding in school, behaving nonviolently, avoiding the use of drugs and alcohol and breaking negative cycles. Big Brothers Big Sisters of Pinellas County includes Pinellas, Hernando and Citrus Counties. Big Brothers Big Sisters of Tampa Bay caters to Hillsborough, Polk, and Pasco Counties. For more information about Big Brothers Big Sisters visit www.bbbs.org.
About Mike Alstott Family Foundation
The Mike Alstott Family Foundation was formed to allow the Altsotts to assist others in uplifting the minds, hearts and spirits of families and children on their way to realizing their full potential through various events, assistance programs, and celebrations. For more information and up to date information visit www.mikealstottfamilyfoundation.org
