For Cherokee High School teacher and field hockey coach Devon Bell, student athletics are about more than just competing in a game.
It’s through travel athletics Bell believes students can learn skills such as dedication, responsibility, respect, self-motivation and teamwork — skills that will help students continue to succeed throughout their lives.
However, getting the necessary equipment to play those sports can also be expensive, which is why in the summer of 2014, Bell started the nonprofit Power Forward, which works to help those student athletes who have the potential to excel in athletics and learn from the opportunity, but might not have the financial means to do so.
The organization helps local kids with the cost of club and AAU sports by holding fundraisers and soliciting donations to provide local kids in need with the equipment required for them to play and succeed.
“I played sports my entire life. I got a scholarship to play field hockey in college and now I coach, and I have learned how expensive sports can be having played with athletes and now coaching them,” Bell said.
With those expenses in mind, this holiday season Power Forward is continuing its mission with the launch of its “Adopt an Athlete Campaign.”
Through Dec. 23, Power Forward is accepting shoes, equipment, sport bags, sports clothing, sporting goods, gift cards, grocery gift cards, GNC gift cards and monetary donations for its Power Forward athletes.
“It’s just to be able to help kids who have holes in their sneakers, and this is the perfect time to do that,” Bell said.
For those interested in giving a little more, supporters can also make a single athlete’s holidays brighter by “adopting” them and purchasing their holiday wish list of athletic equipment.
“Just as some organizations let you ‘adopt a family’ for the holidays, if someone wants to adopt a specific athlete and get all of the child’s wish list, they can contact me and get a specific child,” Bell said.
Those who support a Power Forward athlete are also supporting that athlete’s academic studies and the community they live in, as, to qualify for Power Forward funds, the non-profit requires a student hold at least a 2.75 grade point average and complete 12 hours of community service in a year.
Supporters are also promoting sportsmanship, as Power Forward has a rule that anytime student athletes are excessively removed from athletic competition, that student athlete will lose funding.
Bell also notes that many of the athletes helped are local children.
“When you think underprivileged, someone might think inner-city, but anyone can be disadvantaged if they just have a single parent or a sick parent, and so Power Forward helps them play,” Bell said.
Those who wish to drop off their donations can do so at Appenzeller Training Systems, 465 E. Taunton Ave., Suite 302, in West Berlin, and those who want to arrange a donation pickup can email bell@powerforwardfoundation.org.
Bell said those who are looking for information on how to adopt a specific athlete this holiday season can also use that email address.
“I don’t make any money from this. I don’t take any salary and I never will. I just wanted to give back,” Bell said.
