Sports
 

Former Cougars lend youth a paw

by Tony Hernandez
The Daily Cougar

With the constant flow of news about corruption in collegiate athletics, the UH community can be comforted in knowing the positive efforts made by its own student athletes to motivate children across the Houston area. 

Three years ago senior Jaron Barganier and sophomore James Hong, both football players, along with other student athletes, began the All-N-One organization. Their idea and mission was to use UH athletes as positive role models and mentors to underprivileged kids. Their goal is to enhance youth development and provide positive opportunities so that kids can look forward to a better future. 

The All-N-One organization consists of four programs. The biggest program, Little Coogs, brought over 2,000 elementary school students to UH football games at Robertson Stadium this season. Along with great seats in the end zone section of the stadium, the students participated in tailgating and post-game activities and received souvenir T-shirts. The Little Coogs program has received support from UH alumni in donations for the tickets. 

"This program is providing a connection across the board between UH alums, athletes, kids and sponsors," said John Prestwood, alumni director for the program. "It's very encouraging to see athletes like Barganier and Hong already giving back to the community." 

Prestwood donated money for the construction of a pavilion on the west side of Robertson Stadium for the program to tailgate and hold activities before and after football games. Next year, plans for Little Coogs include not only football games, but also the possibility of attending UH men and women's basketball games, in addition to baseball games. 

Operation Education allows UH athletes to visit Houston and Katy area elementary schools and speak about drugs, school and respect for elders. On Monday, All-N-One visited Pomeray Elementary, where 15 athletes competed in a basketball game against the school's faculty. This April, All-N-One will visit six schools and will take time to visit the DePelchin Children's Center. 

All-N-One also runs summer camps that underline its message s. The camps consist of indoor and outdoor activities that focus on team-building and competition. The organization also holds donation drives which collect clothes, school supplies and other goods to be donated to the Star of Hope Foundation. 

Assistant Director of Athletics for the Student-Athlete Services, Maria Peden, said All-N-One has increased overall participation of student athletes in the community exponentially. With high academic standards for UH athletes and the amount of time required for practice, a community outreach program may seem like something many UH athletes won't have time for. 

"They don't make any money. They do it out of the goodness of their hearts," Peden said.

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