Feature Story & Photos By: Larry H. Oskin
The Champions Circle Youth Program has been busy all summer with educational, cultural, academic and athletic challenges. The members just took part in the annual Basketball Game Challenge with the Clermont and Groveland Police Departments. Before the game, everyone participated in a basketball skills training program.
While the Police Departments held the lead for most of the game, the Champions Circle youth hung in there. It was so close that Clermont Mayor Team Murry changed from being a cheerleader to becoming an official referee by mid-game. At the end of regulation time for the game, it was all tied up 46 to 46. Then in an exciting back and forth lead change rally, the Champions pulled off a close 56 to 54-point win over the police in the final seconds
Clermont City Manager Brian Bulthuis officiated the trophy award presentation, while he asked Police Chief Chuck Broadway to personally and ceremoniously share the trophy they held for the past year with Otis Taylor and the entire Champions Circle Team. There were also awards for the Skills Training Program performances. With plenty of local dignitaries, police, first responders and families there to cheer on the two teams, it was a fabulous energetic day. Everyone celebrated the game victory with a pizza party.
More Than A Game: Give A Day Foundation Founder Otis Taylor, noted, “The energy around this basketball game was unreal. It was electrifying just walking into the gym. Both teams were anticipating this big game day, it finally arrived. Like I always say, history has a way of repeating itself and that’s what happened today. This game wasn’t just about winning. As everyone saw, whoever won we all won. Our youth and our police officers have built a forever bond, showing our communities and our neighboring cities what we can do by working together. Champion Circle is all about mentoring the next generation, so they can be the champions of their day!”
“We are proud and thrilled to have shared time with the Champions Circle Youth this summer”, said Police Chief Charles Broadway. This basketball game was all about building positive relationships that will take us forward to help build new leaders for our future generations with all of the young men and women here in our community.”
Give A Day Foundation co-founder Sandra Taylor shared, “Our Champions Circle is all about teaching teamwork, leadership skills, empowerment and positive community spirit. This summer, our Champions Circle Team has taken part in various interactive activities with the local Police Departments. Chief Broadway and the Clermont Police Department have thankfully shared time, talents and mentorships with our Champions Circle team. Besides tours, tutorials and sports activities, they were introduced to potential future career opportunities with the police department.”
Otis Taylor and his team of volunteer mentors continue to personify the proud community spirit that we have in South Lake, especially with his Give a Day Foundation outreach programs. The Champion Circle is a youth empowerment mentoring program for young 14 to 18-year-old men. By founding the Give a Day Foundation, Otis Taylor has made hundreds of volunteers, mentors, students and non-profit organizations into everyday heroes who help make a difference!
Champion Circle has been designed to help mentor and empower young men with life skills that will guide them in a positive direction and to help them open up possibilities to build a successful future. Launched for this summer with 22 students and 12 mentors, they have been participating in a complete schedule of tutorial meetings, educational workshops, community and sports activities. Their workshops consist of special guest speakers including local government and business leaders who will help teach the Champions Circle Core Values. Some of their community activities include interactive tours to the Clermont Police and Fire Departments. Team building activities such as basketball and extreme frisbee, are being held. They are learning about gun safety with a Lion’s Club skeet shooting event. They are participating in IT and computer technology sessions with UCF, Lake Technical College and Sterling Reed of Vibrantek. They have hands-on automotive workshops to teach them how to change a flat tire, change oil, jump dead batteries and more. These young men will work together on a Habitat for Humanity home building project and visit a water treatment facility to learn how to help protect our environment.
The Give a Day Foundation partners with local area non-profit organizations to support seniors, families, teens, children, animal rescue, arts, culture, Special Olympics sports and recreational activities. Its mission is to help the community through volunteerism. Give A Day volunteers come from every religious, ethnic and economic background and share one thing in common: They help improve the lives of individuals and families while helping build a stronger community.
There have been sessions to prepare the students for college as well as for starting their careers with on resume writing and how to conduct job interviews. The Champion Circle young men program is free, while they are required to provide five hours of volunteer community services each month. With financial planning and career workshops, they have a very full summer schedule. Each young man has been paired with a mentor who will help guide them through the next academic school year.
Champion Circle Core Values: 1. Identity Discovery, to help them discover the person in the mirror. 2. Career Development to help them find professionals that will lead to a successful lifetime career, 3. Health Awareness to learn the importance of being and staying healthy, 4. Financial Identity, to learn how to make wise choices with their money, 5. Volunteerism to help them gain a better understanding of why it is so important to give back to your community.
Give A Day Foundation: To learn more about GADF and Champion Circle, visit their websites at: https://www.giveadayfoundation.org/and https://gadfchamp.org/. Visit and like their Facebook pages at: https://www.facebook.com/gadfchamp.org/ and https://www.facebook.com/GiveADayFoundation/. Call: 407-864-3303 or email Otis Taylor directly at: Otis@GiveADayFoundation.org.
