Winning Warriors Program
Change 1 Win 1 -Impacting the lives of our future!
Winning Warriors is a developmental program created by The Deslandes Foundation, a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization.
The purpose of the Winning Warriors program is to elevate students in the public-schools system at the Elementary, Middle and High School levels. This program is designed to benefit all students in various ways, depending on their needs and where the program can add value. It can elevate students who need help improving academically or behaviorally. It can elevate students who are interested in learning about business or a specific trade skill. It can elevate students who lack positive male influence. It can elevate students by teaching them essential life skills and character building etc.
We understand that multiple factors contribute to how a student develops – at home, in school, and in their communities. The approach that flows from this philosophy works on building beneficial partnerships between students, parents, and teachers - to make a “holistic” positive impact.
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To learn more about the Winning Warriors program and how this program can transform your school, please reach out to us via email or phone:
Howard Deslandes, Founder & CEO
1-855-7GREAT7
howard@thedeslandesfoundation.org
Kesha Brown, President
1-855-7GREAT7
kesha@thedeslandesfoundation.org
Sports are temporary but Education is forever.
1.6% VS 100%
Football- There are around 1 million High School football players. From that, around 6.5% will play college football and around 2% will have the chance to play D1. 1.6% of college football players will make it to the NFL. There are about 853 players that make the pros each year out of a population of over 1 million High School football players. Therefore, the odds of a High School football player making it to the NFL is around 0.00075%.
Basketball- There are about 540,000 High School basketball players. From that, around 3.4% will play in college. The chance of a High School basketball player playing in D1 college is around 0.9%. From that, around 1.2% will play in the NBA. Therefore, the odds of a High School basketball player making it to the NBA is around 0.02%-0.03%.
So, what happens to the 98% of student athletes that do not make their goal or dream come true in becoming a professional NBA or NFL player?
These are just 2 examples of how hard it is to become a professional athlete. It is our strong belief that it is vital and significant for youth to value education and have laser sharp focus in school, get a great education, and gain knowledge of life & business skills that will last a lifetime. There are wonderful qualities that youth can learn from playing sports. We advocate and push for students to play sports. However, making education the HIGHEST priority can empower them if their future endeavors leads them into being a professional athlete. For example, it can help them understand the details of contracts so they don't lose money and/or navigate High School/College NIL deals. Same applies to youth who aspire to be in the entertainment industry. Having education will empower them to understand contract deals, secure rights to their own material & masters and how to maximize their money.
Individuals start their youth early in life with practicing and training hard for a sport, but that will be temporary. We must advocate and have the same drive, determination, grit & hunger for their education, life and business skills - which will last a lifetime!
We will never crush anyone's goals or dreams. We believe in dreaming big and that the impossible is possible. However, we must not be blind to the truth and the other side of the 98%. We will encourage youth to work hard and be obsessed about education - just like they are about sports. We believe in our youth and we believe they can be apart of that 1.6% and achieve any goal or dream they desire.
"NEVER LET SOMEONE SAY YOU CAN NOT, BECAUSE YOU CAN! IT ONLY TAKES ONE YES!" - Howard Deslandes
The Endangerment Zone -A Fatherless Household
Youth who grow up in households without a father or positive male influence are susceptible to higher rates of:
- Depression
- Self hate
- Low self-esteem
- Teenage pregnancies
- Behavioral issues
- Generational fatherless homes
- Difficulty coping with adversity
- Lack of conflict resolution skills
- Feeling rejected
- Bad or negative behaviors in the classroom
- Poor relationships
Youth who come from fatherless households or lack positive male influence are more likely to:
- Go to juvenile
- Go to jail or prison
- Steal or vandalize
- Fight and be angry
- Live in poverty
- Abuse drugs
- Abuse alcohol
- Drop out of school
- Commit crime
- Join a gang
- Seek the wrong attention
- Commit suicide
- Feel unwanted
- Have bad or negative thoughts
The POWER of a strong and positive father or male influence in youth's lives fosters:
- Healthy relationship views
- Greater life goals
- Positive behaviors
- Better grades and higher graduation rates
- Obedience & desire to do the right things
- Less teenage pregnancies
- Lower jail or prison rates
- Less desire to join a gang
- Feelings of love and being wanted
- Self love and self worth
A father or positive male influence in a child's life can impact their lives in a positive way. It makes all the difference in the direction of a child's life!