Georgia State athletics is partnering with the Atlanta Falcons Youth Foundation (AFYF) as part of the athletics department’s goal of reaching 3,000 community volunteer hours, or a minimum 10 per student-athlete, as set by new Director of Athletics Cheryl Levick.

Georgia State will collaborate with AFYF on the Atlanta Falcons Fitness Zones initiative, which helps kids become more physically active and make healthier eating choices. This initiative targets school-age children in four Atlanta neighborhoods and in Gainesville. Presently, there are more than 40 AFYF program sites operating in five Fitness Zones to reach about 10,000 disadvantaged youth.

Georgia State athletes will volunteer their time to support youth programs in neighborhoods around the Georgia Dome, Grant Park, Kirkwood-East Lake and Cascade Road.

“The new partnership with Georgia State gives us one more way to introduce positive models for change into the lives of kids served by Falcons Fitness Zone programs,” said John Bare, vice president of the Atlanta Falcons Youth Foundation. “For young kids, it’s important to develop relationships with university students and to see first-hand how many different pathways to success are available through tennis, track and field, softball, volleyball and other healthful activities.”

This volunteer opportunity is one of several community service projects headed by Joanna Harris, Coordinator of Student-Athlete Development's Life Skills/CHAMPS program. The Student-Athlete Advisory Committee, made up of two members of each of Georgia State’s teams, will spearhead the plans and opportunities.

“We are delighted to be partnering with the Atlanta Falcons Youth Foundation and look forward to supporting this important endeavor to benefit the area kids,” Harris said. “We have always stressed community service and this is excellent because so many of these are near our campus.”

Already partners with the AFYF and the Fitness Zones are the After-School All-Stars, the Boys & Girls Clubs of Metro Atlanta, the Atlanta Track Club, YWCA of Greater Atlanta, Metro Atlanta YMCA, Moving in the Spirit, Visions Unlimited, Vine City Health and Housing Ministry KIPP WAYS Academy, GoGirlGo!, and the Boys & Girls Clubs of Hall County. Georgia State athletics also has existing partnerships with a number of these organizations.