man doing jump shot

Team BOB Has Positively Impacted lives of

8,000+ RESIDENTS IN THE CITY OF CHICAGO & SURROUNDING COMMUNITIES

BOB is committed to positively changing the lives of youth in Chicago. BOB’s programs are designed to help youth develop the skills they need to succeed in school, college, and life. BOB’s programs are effective and have helped thousands of youth to improve their lives.

Our Programs

We have the best Programs to Offer

STEM PROGRAM

The BOB STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) program is a comprehensive program designed to help young people develop their STEM skills. The program offers a variety of activities and experiences.

LIFE SKILL PROGRAM

The BOB life skills program is a comprehensive program that teaches youth about a variety of topics. The BOB life skills program has been shown to be effective in helping youth to develop the skills they need to succeed in life.

PARENTS INVOLVEMENT PROGRAM

The Books Over Balls Parent Involvement Program is a comprehensive program designed to support parents and caregivers in their role as their child’s first and most important teacher.

Preventive Wellness and Mental Health Awareness Initiative

Sure. The Books Over Balls Preventive Wellness and Mental Health Awareness Initiative is a program that aims to promote healthy lifestyles and mental wellness among youth in Chicago. The program offers a variety of activities and resources

Workforce Development Initiative

The Books Over Balls workforce development initiative is a program that aims to help youth in Chicago develop the skills they need to succeed in the workforce. The program offers a variety of activities and resources. This Program is a valuable resource for youth in Chicago.

Youth Ambassador Initiative

The BoB Youth Ambassador Initiative is a program that trains and empowers young people to become leaders in their communities. Youth Ambassadors are selected from BOBs’ basketball and academic programs. They participate in a year-long training program that teaches them about leadership.

POSITIVELY CHANGING LIVES THROUGH SOLUTIONS-BASED PROGRAMS

Books Over Balls (BOB) is a non-profit organization that uses basketball as a platform to provide life skills and academic support to youth in Chicago. BOB’s mission is to positively change lives through solutions-based programs. BOB’s programs are designed to help youth develop the skills they need to succeed in school, college, and life.

Community and Youth Services

Books Over Balls (BOB) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization that uses basketball as a platform to provide life skills and academic support to youth in Chicago. BOB was founded in 2014 by Fernando Vincent, Al Raiford and Revin Fellows. BOB’s programs are designed to help youth develop the skills they need to succeed in life.

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BOOKS OVER BALLS TRAILER

Youth and young adults come from inner-city neighborhoods located throughout the City of Chicago and surrounding areas to participate in Books Over Balls programs. 

Our innovative approach of combining recreational sports and life skill development training transforms any institution, hall, room, gymnasium, basketball court, and place into a classroom setting. We specialize in providing impactful life-changing solutions by creating a new culture of urban young men through education, accountability, and sports.

Partnership

WE ARE PROUD PARTNERS OF

The partnership between Books Over Balls (BOB) and the Family Learning Company (FLC) is a collaboration between two organizations that are committed to helping young people succeed. The partnership was formed in 2017 with the goal of providing young people with access to quality educational resources and experiences.

Books Over Balls (BOB) partnered with Young 365 and Ice Cube’s Big3 to provide free basketball camps to youth in underserved communities. The partnership was announced in 2019 and is part of BOB’s “Books Over Ball” initiative, which aims to promote literacy and education through basketball.

The camps are held in cities where the Big3 plays, and they provide youth with the opportunity to learn basketball skills from former NBA players, as well as receive tutoring and mentoring.

Books Over Balls (BOB) and the Travis Manion Foundation (TMF) have partnered to deliver a youth community hub, mentoring, and community relations.

The partnership between BOB and TMF is a valuable resource for children and youth. The programs and services offered by the partnership help to provide a safe and supportive environment for children and youth to thrive.

Powerful Team

Team BOB

Chief Executive Officer/ Co-Founder

Chief Operations Officer/ Co-Founder

Chief Business Officer/ Co-Founder

Executive Director

Image Gallery

The BOB Impact

african american father sitting with kids on floor

WE CAN’T DO IT ALONE

We need your help, support, encouragement, and the service of others. We’re always in need of donations, of any kind, volunteer support, and getting the word out about what we do and who we are.  Please contact us to volunteer and to offer any support that you make like.

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