A PLUS Youth Program
Letter from our Founder
Dear Friends,
After graduating from college and working briefly in Portland,
Oregon, I returned to Seattle in late 2008. The gyms, playgrounds,
and barber shops still had the buzz of debate over who the city’s
best athlete was for the year. While I participated in those
conversations, I was puzzled by the fact that more
people were not discussing that Seattle Public schools were
closing and crucial academic programs were being cut. Growing
up in Seattle, I watched as peers demonstrated amazing athletic
potential but fell short of going to the next level. Not because they
lacked ability, but because they lacked academic and social
support. I feared the same was going to happen to the next
generation of young athletes and I wanted to make some changes.
I am not a stranger to service. My father received the prestigious
Jefferson award noting his remarkable history of community service
supporting student-athletes in the Seattle area. My mother has
been a youth leader in our church and has worked in
early childhood development for over 25 years. Both parents
instilled in me the importance of steering our youth.
I began to envision a program that would provide young people a strong academic foundation while also developing personal athletic skills. In late 2009, the A PLUS Youth Program became a reality. This is a program
for students looking for an extraordinary opportunity to be not only great athletes, but great leaders.
We are happy to be partnering with the Joel E. Smilow Clubhouse and Teen Center at Rainier Vista Boys & Girls Club, which has one of the finest facilities in Seattle and is technologically equipped for the 21st century. We are very grateful for all of the generous contributions from people throughout the Seattle community. Without this support A PLUS Youth Program would still be a dream.
As we enter our third year we welcome the addition of girls to our program. With a total member size of over 130 we strive to offer the finest, fully integrated, academic and athletic youth development program in the Pacific Northwest.
We are changing the game!
Sincerely,
Tavio Hobson
Founder & Executive Director
A PLUS Youth Program
Founder
