Your Inspirational Stories

This story is about VISION

Our Vision

Submitted by Travis Wilson about 1 year ago.

A fellow Coach and Friend (Tommy Williams) and I (Travis Wilson) had a dream, a vision. We look at our youth as our future. Both of us are devoted fathers and father figures for many of our athletes. Tommy and I grew up 3 hours from each other. Tommy grew up on the South Side of Chicago and I grew up on the East Side of Indianapolis. We know how tough the streets can be. Living a lifestyle where education is on the back burner behind everything else. We walked down that path and also walked away from that lifestyle. Yet, we see hundreds and thousands of kids in our community that aren’t making that tough decision to walk away from what is “cool” and look at a bright and rewarding future. We have heard so many of the reasons why and seen many fail. This is a vicious cycle for many families in our community. Something has to be done.
Tommy and I ran into each other in an Office Depot one afternoon. Tommy was putting together a football camp/clinic and asked me if I had time to volunteer and coach. I didn’t hesitate! We met and discussed our visions of where we felt our program could go and what it could do to help change our community. We formed (OHF) Operation Healthy Family. One year ago we started off in (2) Title 1 elementary schools for our “Outreach” football program. This year we have expanded into (2) additional middle schools and continue to grow. We have joined with our local school district in an Anti-Bullying Campaign called “See It-Say It” and are starting to offer an “Outreach” soccer program. We are making changes in our community. We are giving children hope, guidance and education to set goals and obtain these goals. Nothing is unreachable; it will take hard work, dedication and the vision to succeed.