Today we’d like to introduce you to Arman Canlas
Hi Arman, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
As a kid, I wasn’t the most athletic among my friends but I had a deep passion for basketball. It was probably because my dad has been a New York Knicks fan for as long as I can remember. Now I’m not a man of many regrets, but there is one thing I have always regretted – not believing in myself enough to try out for my high school basketball team again after getting cut from junior varsity.
Now, as a strength and conditioning coach in Orlando, I can see firsthand how some families can afford quality training for their kids, which wasn’t an option for my family growing up. My parents lacked the financial resources to provide me with the luxury of working with coaches who could guide me through training with discipline and consistency. Because of this, I missed the opportunity to have another voice in my life to show me that I was capable.
The idea for the Rose Hoop Clinic sparked during a flight in early 2023. On flights, I typically like to take time to read my Bible and pray. During one of those moments, I was inspired with an idea for an event that felt seemingly impossible. I envisioned an annual event that would provide elite strength training, basketball skills training, and free basketball shoes to 10-20 youth athletes. After wrestling with my doubts for a few months, I decided to overcome my own disbelief and step out in faith.
As I continued to take small steps forward, the pieces began to miraculously fall into place. Eventually, everything for our event was fully donated: the gym, 20 pairs of Nike basketball shoes, shirts, and all the costs associated with hosting the event. Our first event was a huge success.
When it came to hosting the event for the second year in a row, we decided to start a nonprofit organization to help us further our mission of making elite basketball more accessible. From there, Helping Hoopers Inc. was born to empower and invest in kids like me who needed an extra hand to succeed.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
As expected, we faced challenges in finding a location at the last minute and securing committed participants, but these are realities of the industry. Fortunately, the process has gone smoothly, largely thanks to our amazing donors. The Rose Hoop Clinic has been fully funded for its first two years, enabling us to provide not only essential resources but also meals and new Nike basketball shoes for our athletes. The generous support from individuals and organizations like Hoop Culture and Be a Light Inc. has allowed us to exceed our initial expectations. In addition to financial backing, we have benefited from the dedication of remarkable coaches who are willing to invest their time and expertise into our mission. We are truly grateful for their contributions. By breaking down barriers, the generosity of others has empowered our youth to reach their full potential both on and off the court, ensuring that their dreams are shaped by their dedication and talent, rather than their circumstances.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your business?
The vision of Helping Hoopers Inc. is to empower and invest in future world changers through the medium of basketball. We do this by making elite-level basketball resources accessible to aspiring youth in Central Florida, through top-tier training, equipment, and financial support. We are different from others, first, because we believe in bringing high-level, elite resources to players. We want the athlete’s ability to strive towards a dream to not be limited to the things they can afford or the people they know. By providing athletes access to top-notch basketball resources without the burden of financial limitations, we not only enhance their skills on the court but also nurture their ambitions and foster a belief in their potential to achieve great things. Second, we believe that young people grow to the level of resources they have—not only in basketball but as future leaders impacting the world. We take the time to invest in the person, not just the player. We do this by highlighting leadership development and providing resources for independent growth off the court.
It would be hard to choose one thing to be most proud of; but I would say we are proud of the expertise we bring to our athletes and the connections we have developed along the way. The skills coaches, leaders, and speakers we have had the privilege to work with are the backbone of making our vision happen. It allows Helping Hoopers Inc. to not only encourage the youth but also build a community network with other high-level industry leaders. It is a special feeling to have not only people in your corner, but role models to support and unite together because of a vision you couldn’t have created alone.
We make everything we mentioned above come to life in our annual Rose Hoop Clinic, hosted by Helping Hoopers Inc. The Rose Hoop Clinic provides skills coaching, strength training, basketball shoes, inspiration motivation, leadership development, food, and more free-of-cost to athletes. We named the event the Rose Hoop Clinic, inspired by Tupac Shakur’s poem called “The Rose That Grew From Concrete.” The poem tells the story about a rose that grew from a crack in the concrete despite facing challenges and barriers. We aim to equip our athletes with that same mentality and support them through providing elite-level resources.
Where do you see things going in the next 5-10 years?
We believe Helping Hoopers Inc. will have significant growth in the next 5 years, and we are excited to be in the early stages of making this vision happen in Central Florida. Our goal is to expand our services by providing financial assistance for competitive league fees, hotel stipends for travel basketball, and support for the rising costs of elite resources. We also want to build up future world leaders by hosting workshops, connecting athletes with mental performance coaches, and fostering their development off the court. Finally, we are committed to strengthening our community by organizing events and building a robust network of like-minded providers.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.helpinghoopers.org/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/helpinghoopers/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61563973314763
- Other: https://www.instagram.com/therosehoopclinic/
Image Credits
Adrian Diaz
Sean Hughes
