Marcus Smart's YounGameChanger Foundation
Empowering youth through life-changing experiences.
Marcus Smart's YounGameChanger Foundation
Empowering youth through life-changing experiences.
Latest News FROM MArcus + YGC Foundation in the COMMUNITY
2025 Basketball/mindfulness program in hawaii
This June 26th-27th, we will be providing our no-cost program to military families at the US Navy Base at Pearl Harbor and for the local community at the University of Hawaii.
This will be the first program at a US Navy Base and has been expanded into the local community. The past two years, the program has reached over 1200+ military families at US Army bases in Texas and Kentucky.
“You’ve got families here risking their lives for our country and their kids unfortunately are brought into that. They have no say so in where they are going to go. It’s hard to have a normal life when your family is in the (military). I just wanted to come and show these kids that just because they’re here doesn’t mean we don’t care. We care about them. We care about their families. We’re thankful for what their families are doing for our country and allowing someone like me to go play the game of basketball freely. It was important to me. It was also important to provide the same opportunity to the local community as there is no professional team in Hawaii though there are many fans of the NBA there.” said Marcus Smart.
For information about supporting/sponsoring this program, contact Hawaii@marcussmart.org
You can also make a donation here:
TEAMing up with THE DC POLICE FOUNDATION AND PUMA
Marcus and his YounGameChanger Foundation teamed up with PUMA and the DC Police Foundation who do great work with at-risk youth in the DC community. We treated the youth to a shopping trip at the PUMA store and we were joined by author D. Watkins who gifted the adults his book. We are so proud of all the great work being done in the community to make it a better place for our youth.
Thank you to the Washington Wizards for capturing the day.
SMART CART SURPRISE FOR BILLS QB JOSH ALLEN
Marcus recently surprised Buffalo Bills QB1, Josh Allen with 2 Smart Carts to Oishei Children's Hospital in Buffalo. Marcus saw the incredible work Josh was doing for the children on behalf of his grandmother Patrica and wanted to recognize him for it.
Watch the video from Dom Tibbetts at WKBW in Buffalo.
Smart Carts for Ja Morant in Memphis
YGC donated two Smart Carts to the Spence and Becky Wilson Baptist Children’s Hospital in Memphis. These Smart Carts will provide their Child Life Specialists the ability to responsibly integrate technology into play therapy. Child Life incorporate play therapy as part of educating on what to expect for procedures or equipment, an integral part of the healing process, and normalizing a patient’s stay while in the hospital. "I put Ja Morant on these carts since his family had gone through a difficult time when his daughter was born. He could relate to what these kids go through plus the kids love to see Ja." - Marcus Smart
Summer events of 2024
Ft. Cavazos, Texas
Author D Watkins in Memphis
Ft. Campbell, Kentucky
For the 2nd year in a row, we provided free basketball clinics with Marcus and a mindfulness program with Yoga with Hania for military families at Fort Cavazos in Texas and Fort Campbell in Kentucky. This program has reached over 700+ military families.
Ft. Campbell, Kentucky
Author D Watkins in Memphis
Ft. Campbell, Kentucky
“You’ve got families here risking their lives for our country and their kids unfortunately are brought into that,” he said. “They have no say so in where they are going to go. It’s hard to have a normal life when your family is in the (military). I just wanted to come and show these kids that just because they’re here doesn’t mean we don’
“You’ve got families here risking their lives for our country and their kids unfortunately are brought into that,” he said. “They have no say so in where they are going to go. It’s hard to have a normal life when your family is in the (military). I just wanted to come and show these kids that just because they’re here doesn’t mean we don’t care. We care about them. We care about their families. We’re thankful for what their families are doing for our country and allowing someone like me to go play the game of basketball freely. It was important to me.” - Marcus Smart
Author D Watkins in Memphis
Author D Watkins in Memphis
Author D Watkins in Memphis
Through our STEAM programming, we brought New York Times best selling author, D Watkins to PURE Academy in Memphis. D talked about his upbringing in Baltimore and worked with the kids on creating their ow stories. Pure Academy committed to the holistic development of young men through a blend of academic excellence, practical AgriSTEM education, and athletics.
The YGC Mission
The Mission of Marcus Smart's YounGameChanger Foundation is to serve as a source of guidance, motivation, encouragement and empowerment for inner-city student-athletes to be GameChangers on and off the court or field. To create opportunities through education, sports and mentorships with a special emphasis on STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Math) experiences. To provide inspiration and life-changing experiences to pediatric cancer patients and their families.
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scenes from the 2023 Bowling Bash
Presented By Orion
Our first Bowling Bash at
Bowlero, Memphis, TN.
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