Programs and Services

1. Educational Initiatives

  • DePaul Scholarship Endowment
  • Chicago Public School – Providing Reading and Learning Centers in Public Schools were computers and books are needed

2. Sports Initiatives

  • Basketball Camps and Clinics – Children are giving training and instruction on the fundamentals of basketball
  • Basketball Travel Team – Bobby Simmons Elite, a select group of young men that travel to tournaments and compete throughout the summer, they are also provided with training and instruction on the game of basketball.

 

3. Community-Based Initiatives

HOUSING PROGRAM

The Bobby Simmons Rising Stars Foundation 2009 community outreach and development campaign will focus on Reaching Back, Reaching Out and Rising High in inner cities in the Chicago / NY / NJ / ATLANTA / LA metropolitan areas. The cornerstone of this campaign will be a fundraising drive to provide free housing and promote home ownership for single parents who would not normally be able to experience this dream. In keeping with the presidential initiative "National Call to Service" the Bobby Simmons Rising Stars Foundation "Humanity Project: Building Better Communities" is calling upon YOU, colleagues, family, friends, associates, neighbors, community leaders to join him in this effort to build better communities. The housing program in Chicago will consist of new construction and rehab construction focusing on the 24th and 2nd Wards. Additionally in the NY/NJ area, co-op programs to accommodate upward living (apartments/duplexes) will be the focus. The LA/ATLANTA markets will focus on single family housing in underserved communities. This program will also empower families through establishing:

  • A Life Skills program to teach core competencies including etiquette, public speaking and community service
  • Financial planning and management
  • Basic home maintenance and upkeep
  • Provide a community center or after school program for tutoring and test preparation to encourage continued education or training to improve their individual quality of life.

The housing program in Chicago will consist of new construction and rehab construction focusing on the 24th and 2nd Wards. Additionally in the NY/NJ area, coop programs to accommodate upward living (apartments/duplexes) will be the focus.

RISING StART – Arts and Education Initiative

The Bobby Simmons Rising Stars foundation will spearhead an arts initiative called Rising StART. The goals of this project are to: (1) strengthen the arts as an essential academic subject in the school curriculum enabling all students to meet academic standards and achieve proficiency in standardized testing and computer literacy; and (2) strengthening academic skills thereby improving the academic achievement of all students.

The Rising StART initiative will consist of five core objectives: (1) weekly preparation, training and assistance in school work or art projects, (2) integration of the arts into other core subjects to improve learning, (3) development of Professional Learning Communities and Collaborative Leadership Teams to assist in tutoring and curriculum development, (4) delivering a safe, personalized, inclusive afterschool environment and weekend culture, and (5) creating partnerships with parents, community, arts and cultural organizations.

The Rising StART initiative will have the additional components to include:

  • fieldwork to identify young artist within in the community grades 9-12
  • training youth artists to develop their talent, diversify and continue core curriculum education
  • artist visits and lectures to students
  • public exhibitions and projects
  • community outreach and parental education to support children with an arts focus promoting adult education and family literacy, reading and learning centers
  • offer continued studies and talent develop at local art focused institutions through scholarships
  • ongoing curriculum development and contest/promotions to promote creativity and encourage careers in the arts
  • mentoring youth through speaking engagements, educators, artist instructors, entertainers and athletes
  • development of community center or program in an existing center
  • preparation for standardize testing and computer literacy

SUBSTANCE ABUSE AND ExOffender PROGRAM (Rising Stars CHOICES)

The Bobby Simmons Rising Stars Foundation will develop a substance abuse and exoffender outreach program for adults that transition from recovering addicts and/or incarceration situations. The Rising Stars CHOICES program will provide education, family focused programs to prevent recidivism in their return to their families and their communities. This community outreach program will assist parents acquiring transitional life skills, education or technical training to assist with their ability to provide stable environments for their children and themselves as they return to society and aide them in making the right CHOICES. Key program components will be:

  • Regular visits and speaker series to recovery assistance programs and penal institutions
  • Development of programs to include group sessions and individual development plans
  • Programs to ensure activities to prevent relapses and promote reintroduction as functioning, contributing, purpose driven citizens in our communities through
    CHOICES:

    Choosing families over substances

    Having the confidence to stand alone

    Offering assistance to those in need

    Initiatives to develop outstanding citizens

    Community involvement and citizenship

    Effective leadership and life skills training

    Saving lives daily to embrace our community