For Immediate Release
Contact: Anthony Perez (602)930-2182
July 8, 2015

ARIZONA FOUNDATION FOR WOMEN and ARIZONA COALITION TO END SEXUAL AND DOMESTIC VIOLENCE announce groundbreaking “Coaching Up”  violence prevention program and host summit.

 

Arizona Foundation for Women and Arizona Coalition to End Sexual and Domestic Violence are proud to announce an innovative pilot program- Coaching UP.

Coaching UP focuses primarily on addressing the roles that high school athletics coaches play in the lives of their student-athletes and will give them the skills to teach student-athletes the values of respect, integrity and teamwork. The Coaching UP program content includes subjects such as healthy relationships, confronting peer pressures, detrimental impacts of underage drinking/substance abuse and the trauma of head injuries sustained on the field. Coaching UP creates “Upstanding” men through coaching and education. Each school will be provided a $1000 grant to produce a community service project that relates to the discussed issues.  Coaching UP is a pilot program in funding collaboration with Arizona Foundation for Women, the McCain Institute, and the NFL Foundation through a Legacy Grant.

LAUNCH EVENT:  A Coaching Summit for Coaching UP will take place at the University of Phoenix Stadium on Friday, July 10, 2015 from 10:00 am- 3:00 pm.  Participants will include High School Coaches, Athletic Directors, Principals and Counselors. Participating schools include Central, North Canyon, Skyline, McClintock, Sequoia, Blue Ridge, Sequoia Pathway, Betty Fairfax, Salt River and Monument Valley High Schools.

This event is not open to the public, although it is open to media.

Allie Bones, CEO of the Arizona Coalition to End Sexual and Domestic Violence comments: “We are thrilled to be in partnership with the Foundation for Women on this very important youth development initiative. Coaches are powerful influencers on young lives and we look forward to shaping positive futures for both young men and women through this project.”

Adrian Wilson, a former Arizona Cardinal, commented: “I’m honored to be the keynote speaker at this year’s Coaching UP Summit.  Whenever I get the chance to speak with H.S. coaches, I always stress to them the importance of being a positive role model in their student-athlete’s lives, both on and off the field, as well as the importance of education.  What their players will learn in the classroom can take them a lot further in life than playing sports.”

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