©2010 “Shooting Touch, Inc.”
Telephone: 508-359-2509, 508-359-2509,
Fax: 508-359-2152
Shooting Touch Sabbatical
Shooting Touch Sabbatical
"Shooting Touch’s
Sabbatical Program
is an outstanding
way for students to
use their passion for
basketball and
channel it into a ten
month mission of
changing and
impacting lives.
It's the opportunity
of a lifetime for
these folks and an
incredible program.
All students who are
fortunate enough to
win the grant,will
undoubtedly return
home a more
mature, enriched
and passionate
person."
Coach Bob Hurley,
St. Anthony's
High School, NJ
"Never doubt that a small group of citizens can change the world. In fact, it is the only thing that ever has." Margaret Mead
Shooting Touch, Inc.'s new, first-of-its-kind, ‘Sabbatical Program’ will grant select American graduating college seniors the rare opportunity to experience a 10-month international, independent work program outside of the United States.
The program’s mission is to encourage individual resourcefulness and leadership while working to give back to the global community and influence positive social change through the sport of basketball.
Applicants of all levels from colleges and universities across the United States have submitted applications and the top (5) finalists are currently being reviewed by our Board of Directors. Each finalist was instructed to provide a detailed, written document as well as video presentation outlining of the goals of each individual 10-month program, as well as various personal statements indicating why he/she is the best candidate. Upon acceptance, each grantee will be awarded a stipend of $25,000 to fund his/her work program and experience.
Shooting Touch, Inc. has overseas affiliates such as The Kossengwe Foundation in Nigeria, the NBA’s Basketball Without Borders Program in Senegal and Team Yao and the Yao Ming Foundation in China and the NBA's Eurocamp in Treviso, Italy. Shooting Touch, Inc. recommends that the Sabbatical nominees consider and reach out to of these affiliates while designing his/her work program. However, it is important to stress each individual has the flexibility to use his/her own entrepreneurial spirit to design their own journey and program. His/her main goal is to use the sport of basketball as a platform to influence positive social change in each country. How this is accomplished is up to each Sabbatical Grantee.
The Board of Directors for Shooting Touch, Inc.’s Sabbatical Program include:
- Kenny Atkinson- Assistant Coach of the New York Knicks
- Dee Brown- Former NBA star and 1991 Slam Dunk champion
- Wayne Embry - NBA Hall of Fame Inductee, Former GM of the Cleveland Cavaliers and the Toronto Raptors
- Danilo Galinari - Starting forward for the New York Knicks and native Italian.
- Coach Bob Hurley Sr. Legendary high school coach of the 25-time National Champion St. Anthony's Friars of Jersey City, NJ
- Bobby Hurley Jr - Duke basketball college standout and NBA star for the Sacramento Kings
- Peter Philo - International scouting coordinator/player personnel for the Minnesota Timberwolves
- Jay Triano - Head Coach of the Toronto Raptors
For more information on the program, please see our video below and please stay tuned on the progress of the application process.
Examples of responsibilities each individual's work program may include but not be limited to:
- Use basketball as a platform to educate members of the community about local problems and relay life saving information, ie. AIDS prevention, maternal & child health, proper nutrition, goal setting and leadership, etc.
- Creating a detailed administrative program to include a database on all basketball player statistics and attendance sheets;
- Set up meetings with parents in order to ensure proper communication is facilitated at home and take the temperature of each player’s family life;
- Propose fundraising events to include timelines, budget and creative grassroots marketing ideas to secure more funding for future programs in local communities;
- Develop community service events for the students of the academy to make sure they understand the importance of giving back within their community;
- Help prepare upcoming camps held by both organizations in Nigeria, Senegal and neighboring countries;
- Assist with the selection process for future camps;
- Explore the potential of sharing basketball knowledge with local coaches; and
- Assist with the infrastructure of all grassroots programs.
Congratulations to Tome Barros of Dorchester, MA on winning the 2010 Shooting Touch Sabbatical Grant! Tome leaves the country to travel the world and change lives... in just 6 weeks! Check bask to follow his journey! Safe travels, Tome!
