The BBF program is a true partnership with each of our host colleges and universities. Together we strive to be community change agents by providing meaningful programming to at-risk youth in four tiers:
By combining a broad spectrum of resources, our comprehensive program fosters maximum impact.
BBF has created our curriculum in partnership with Trevor Ragan (The Learner Lab) and further enhanced by our educational partners at LSU and Arizona State University. We use volleyball, the largest participatory sport of girls and women in the USA, and the fastest growing boys high school sport, as a way to attract participants into our program.
Participants work with leaders from the university's education and athletic departments. We utilize small group learning and include host college student athletes as mentors.
On the court or on the sand, we teach nutrition, teamwork, growth mindset and build through positivity. We keep the kids moving, we keep the kids learning and we teach the student athletes the power of how their actions promote these kids sense of self worth, growth and the power of growth mindset.
Our on court program is designed by USA Volleyball National Team Coaches. During our on-the-court segments, students receive volleyball skill instruction and enjoy play with partner college student athletes and coaches. We also work with the student college athletes to foster team building, teach mentorship and to have them stand up as positive role models for the middle school students.
In-classroom sessions guide participants in stress management, overcoming fear, the growth mindset, and study skills, in a curriculum designed by our partner, Trevor Ragan, and his Learning Lab initiative. The student athletes work in small group mentorships – student groups that facilitate conversations, ask intellectually curious questions, and to help the younger students learn to problem solve.
A safe and nurturing environment is critical to success – we provide nutrition education and healthy meals/snacks for participants, including the coaches, parents, and student athlete mentors. We strive to ensure our programming addresses the needs of the whole student.
Our inspiring mentors and teachers do more than educate. They strive to build meaningful connections between themselves and student participants and their families via Q&A sessions. We encourage them to work as a team, to discuss issues, mentor the middle schoolers and to teach them the importance and ability of giving back to others in need.
We engage the local community of each partner school, driving local impact.
By December 2025, we aim to have 30 colleges and universities working together under the BBF program.
If you find that our program would be beneficial to your college or university, we would be glad to start the conversation with you – Please contact our staff by emailing us.
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BBF & ASU
The Sun Devil Athletics (SDA) of Arizona State University (ASU) and our program were in perfect alignment from day one – ASU measures its impact by its inclusiveness and the success of its community, advancing research and enhancing the overall health of the communities it serves…
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BBF & LSU
"It’s a privilege to help make LSU more accessible and positively impact our community… This kind of collaboration is so important to developing a deeply caring community.”
– Russell Brock, LSU Head Coach
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