Today we’d like to introduce you to Cathleen Laporte.
Hi Cathleen, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I identify myself as an Afro-Caribbean American woman and am a resident of NYC. I am a graduate of Francis Lewis High School located in Queens, NY; Binghamton University (BA); University of Pittsburgh’s Graduate School of Public & International Affairs (MPIA); and University of Pittsburgh’s School of Law (JD). I have worked in the Antitrust and Securities Litigation sectors for over 10 years and founded Athletes for Charity in 2004.
My mission in founding Athletes for Charity was to give back to my community through the creation of educational and mentoring programming. Athletes for Charity achieves this goal by teaming up with professional athletes, sports leagues and teams, various sports professionals, foster care agencies and related organizations, the corporate sector, as well as volunteers and mentors, to empower and support the development of disadvantaged youth. Athletes for Charity’s work range from the development and coordination of youth mentoring programs; youth literacy initiatives; STEM education programs; assisting with the establishment of athlete foundations and charitable projects; the planning and implementation of camps and clinics for youth that encompass an educational component; holiday toy drives for underprivileged children; coordination of athlete appearances; and planning special events which include youth and athlete participation i.e. “Bowl with an Athlete,” “Back to School / Sports Day,” and “Principal for a Day” events.
Throughout the years we have benefitted foster care youth, students in grades K-12, and many families across the country.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not, what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
We are a very small grassroots organization and thus funding is always a challenge for us, despite our size, our goal is always to make a mighty impact on the youth, families, and communities we aim to serve.
The road has not always been easy. For most years, funding has been extremely scarce yet we have managed to maintain it for 18 years and counting. The athletes come and go. Once they are cut, go unsigned or retire, they often move away from the team cities and begin to focus on their lives after sports: career and families.
Funding enables us to expand our programming to more cities and serve more youth and families, schools, and communities. We never know what each year’s budget will be yet we always strive to go above and beyond to serve as many as we can with whatever limited resources that we have. We are strictly a staff of volunteers so no one takes a salary from the funding that we raise. Though there are some basic administrative costs, the majority of the funds are used solely to benefit the youth and families that we serve.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
Athletes for Charity is a nonprofit that teams up with professional athletes, sports leagues and teams, youth organizations, corporations, as well as volunteers and mentors, to empower and support the development of underprivileged and disadvantaged youth. I am extremely passionate about promoting STEM, literacy, and mentoring youth. My goal is to inspire and encourage as many youths as possible to use their education to help themselves achieve unimaginable heights of success.
How can people work with you, collaborate with you, or support you?
There are many ways people can work with us and collaboratively support the work of Athletes for Charity:
(1) Volunteer your Time – Due to the nature of our work with youth, background checks are sometimes required.
(2) Share your expertise in public relations/communications, marketing, etc. to help us advance efforts to serve more youth and families.
(3) Host an online fundraiser through us to collaboratively adopt a local school in your community to gift books or educational products to.
(4) Donate brand-new school supplies, books, and educational products to some of our classrooms.
(5) Donate directly to Athletes for Charity to help us continue the amazing work that we do in so many different communities.
(6) Donate tickets to upcoming events that we can offer as an essay or drawing contest prize to underprivileged youth who would not otherwise have an opportunity to attend such events with their families due to finances.
(7) Donated unwanted gift cards and holiday gifts for us to gift to underprivileged youth and their families throughout the year.
(8) Help us research and identify local grants and sponsorship opportunities to apply for, to support all of our STEM, Literacy, and Mentoring Programs.
(9) Provide Scholarships of $100, $250, $500, $1000 or more to students.
(10) Help spread the word about our work and efforts. Word of mouth is always very helpful to gain new followers and supporters.
(11) Host fundraisers and toy drives to collect wish list items from your office at work or from your friends on social media. Ask all of your friends to donate $5 to purchase brand-new books for a class or entire grade level.
(12) Reach out to us at info@athletesforcharity.com for more ideas on how you can give back through us or on your own.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.athletesforcharity.com
- Instagram: @AthletesForCharity
- Facebook: @AthletesForCharity
- Twitter: @A4C_Info
- Youtube: @AthletesForCharity
