Home | The Winning Foundation

OUR HISTORY

The Winning Foundation began in 2013, Bryant Smith brought his experiences as an international basketball player to the youth of his childhood area. He knew most of the youth have attended enrichment programs in the summer, but receive no support or guidance from the program until the following summer. So Bryant created The Winning Foundation as an In-School, After School, and Summer Enrichment program seeking to build and enhance the character and intellect of our participants through a structured mentoring program designed for students whom have been classified as at-risk. This foundation seeks to maintain contact with the participants throughout the year and thus increase the enrichment of their lives.

A WINNING PROGRAM

At The Winning Foundation, our program is designed to provide individual and group tutoring, character-building sessions, attendance at sporting, cultural, and educational events to advance their scope of the community in which they live while opening their minds to advancing their own lives. This mentoring will be performed through collaboration with numerous civic and social organizations and individuals throughout the Huntsville community.

Our goal is to improve the quality of youth lives and teach the fundamentals of social responsibility, healthy living and cultural acceptance. Curious to find out more about The Winning Foundation and how you can get involved? Browse our website and get in touch with us today.

COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT

School System Collaboration

To be effective in the provision of assistance to these students, we work with Huntsville City Schools to have access to their students during school hours to further and effectively mentor. We also collaborate with counselors, teachers, and administrators to ensure we are in one accord in our efforts to enhance the advancement of these children.

EFFECTIVE
GUIDANCE

At The Winning Foundation, we strive to empower the lives of youth in the Huntsville community through our variety of programs. The Winning Foundation is designed to provide mentors with all the tools they need to be great leaders through the MENTOR program. We are happy to be the driving force behind the development of our children, and hope to continue making a difference in their lives.

COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT

The Winning Foundation has contributed to the development of children in the Huntsville area through our wide range of programs. Our engagement is centered on instilling strong values into our youth, while teaming up with the parents to continue the enrichment in the home as well. Our program is geared towards the youth but overall community engagement is vital to the success of all parties involved.

COLLABORATORS

We are proud to collaborate with distinguished companies, organizations , and institutions. Click LEARN MORE to get details of our alignment.

LEARN MORE

THE EFFECTS OF MENTORING

“Mentoring is a brain to pick, an ear to listen, and a push in the right direction.” — John Crosby

BUILDING RELATIONSHIPS

Building one to one relationships between at-risk children and caring adults in mentoring programs is one of the most effective ways of bringing out a child's potential and ensuring that the child will make better choices.

MENTORED YOUTHS ARE...

46% Less likely to begin using illegal drugs.
27% Less likely to begin using alcohol.
52% More likely to enroll in college than those without a mentor.
81% More likely to participate regularly in sports or extracurricular activities.
78% More likely to volunteer regularly in their communities.

MEET OUR MENTORS

Each mentor seeks to establish a positive and trusting relationship with each participant, focusing specifically on their individual needs. Our mentors serve to foster a caring and supportive relationship, providing clear guidelines and expectations for the individual participant while promoting self-awareness, self-confidence, behavior management, and positive attitudes.

ABOUT THE FOUNDER

Bryant Smith was born and raised in Huntsville in a single parent household. Bryant graduated from S.R. Butler High School where he became an All American basketball player, leading to a full basketball scholarship from Auburn University. After attending and playing basketball for 4 years, Bryant moved to Europe to pursue a professional basketball career in the EuroLeague. This move was the start of a 15 year career playing in Italy, Bulgaria, Cyprus and France earning championships, MVP, Defensive Man of the Year and Import Player of the Year awards.

Bryant retired from basketball in December of 2013, with the new found spare time he turned his focus to working with the youth at The Boys & Girls Club's summer program. He has always had a heart for children and wanted to make sure every kid has a chance to succeed. Noticing a lack of mentoring outside of summer programs, Bryant founded The Winning Foundation, Inc., a mentoring organization for school age children in the Huntsville/Madison County Area. He set out to make a difference in the lives' of the youth in his childhood neighborhood by providing them with all the tools, resources and support needed in order to shape them into ambitious members of the community year round. Over the years, the Winning Foundation has grown to be the benchmark youth organization in the Huntsville area - offering youth of the community a chance to reach their fullest potential.