PROGRAMS

Mission Statement: The UCLA Athletics Community Relations program was developed to foster mentoring relationships between UCLA Athletics and youth in the surrounding community. By providing children with the opportunity to experience a glimpse of college life, the program aspires to build positive relationships and motivate young people to achieve in school and life. To this end, Bruin coaches, student-athletes and staff members have been busy interacting in the community and speaking as UCLA ambassadors through our outreach programs, detailed below.

What program does my group qualify for?

	I'm Going To College Elementary, Middle, and High School Classrooms
	Athletics for Youth Youth groups
	Bruin School Days Elementary, Middle, and High School Classrooms
	Youth Football Day Youth football teams (Pop Warner, School teams, etc)
	Adopt A Classroom Elementary and Middle School Classrooms
	Reading Days Young readers that visit local libraries

UCLA's I'm Going to College program has touched the lives of thousands of elementary, middle, and high school students across Southern California. This unique program, offered to Southern California school groups, couples the excitement and tradition of UCLA Athletic events with a message about the importance of higher education.

Upon arrival at the event (2-3 hours before the game), groups are greeted by a current UCLA student and led to the IGTC college fair area. Students are immediately immersed in Bruin traditions, as they learn the UCLA Eight Clap and the importance of higher education. While at the college fair, students speak with academic counselors and pick up educational information about questions they may have regarding education and preparing for college. Students also have the opportunity to get autographs from student-athletes. Other fun fair activities include carnival games, activity books, a DJ, give-away items, and removable tattoos. At the college fair, students and even some of their teachers can get into the UCLA spirit before heading into the stadium. During the winter and spring IGTC events that take place on campus, students and teachers are taken on a campus tour that features Pauley Pavilion, Royce Hall, Powell Library, Ackerman Union, the Bruin Bear, and Kerckhoff Hall.

The "I'm Going to College" program is offered throughout the year. Specific events are targeted in the sports of football, women's basketball, gymnastics, and track & field. "I'm Going To College" also offers educational materials for classrooms to prepare for their fieldtrip to UCLA. By providing additional activities for students in the classroom, UCLA hopes to further illustrate the benefit of higher education and connect with students in an academic setting. By placing young students into a collegiate atmosphere that stresses the excellence of both education and athletics, UCLA hopes to build positive relationships with young people in the community and motivate them to continue achieving goals in both school and life.

ATHLETICS FOR YOUTH PROGRAM

What began as a way to honor requests for ticket donations ultimately grew into UCLA's Athletics For Youth program. This program provides complimentary tickets to selected UCLA Athletic events to non-profit children's organizations and other charitable community groups. It encourages children to think about their educational futures and offers a first-hand look at the opportunities available through participation in sports. Children learn the value of teamwork, leadership, cooperation, and gain a new appreciation about what it means to be part of a team.

This program presents a positive alternative to surrounding social problems by helping young people build a sense of self-esteem and self-awareness. Tickets are subject to availability and all groups must meet specific criteria to be eligible for the Athletics For Youth program.

BRUIN SCHOOL DAYS PROGRAM

This program provides complimentary tickets to thousands of elementary, middle, and high school students across Southern California. Bruin School Days encourages children to think about their educational futures and offers a first-hand look at the opportunities available through participation in sports. Children learn the value of teamwork, leadership, cooperation and gain a new appreciation about what it means to be part of a team.

The "Bruin School Days" program is offered throughout the year. "Bruin School Days" is the sister program of "I'm Going To College" but offers many more opportunities to see UCLA Athletic events on campus. Although "Bruin School Days" does not host a college fair, it does offer an expanded list of different sports classrooms can attend. In the fall, "Bruin School Days" events are held for men's soccer, women's soccer, and women's volleyball. In the winter/spring, events are held for women's basketball, gymnastics, softball, baseball, men's volleyball, women's tennis, men's tennis, and men's and women's track & field.

"Bruin School Days" also offers educational materials for classrooms to prepare for their fieldtrip to UCLA. By providing additional activities for students in the classroom, UCLA hopes to further illustrate the benefit of higher education and connect with students in an academic setting. By placing young students into a collegiate atmosphere that stresses the excellence of both education and athletics, UCLA hopes to build positive relationships with young people in the community and motivate them to continue achieving goals in both school and life.

YOUTH FOOTBALL PROGRAM

This program provides complimentary tickets to school and recreational football teams across Southern California. Youth Football Day encourages young athletes to think about their educational futures and offers a first-hand look at the opportunities available through participation in sports. Players learn the value of teamwork, leadership, cooperation and gain a new appreciation about what it means to be part of a team.

ADOPT A CLASSROOM PROGRAM

Through this program, a Bruin student-athlete "adopts" a classroom and corresponds with the students during the course of the season. Once a classroom is registered, UCLA will assign the classroom to a member of one of the participating teams and students will communicate with that Bruin student-athlete during the course of the season. The program will conclude with a visit to UCLA where students will have the opportunity to cheer for the Bruins and then meet their student-athlete after the event.

In the fall, "Adopt A Classroom" programs are run for men's soccer, women's soccer, and women's volleyball. In the winter/spring, programs are run for women's basketball, gymnastics, softball, baseball, and men's volleyball.

By allowing students to interact with Bruin athletes, students gain the opportunity to develop a connection with an older, positive role model, and improve their reading and writing skills as they write to and receive letters from their athlete. In addition, by placing young students into a collegiate atmosphere that stresses the excellence of both education and athletics, UCLA hopes to motivate these students to continue achieving goals in both school and life.

READING DAYS PROGRAM

Reading Days is a program that endeavors to positively affect the reading habits of elementary and middle school students involved in local library reading programs throughout the course of the year. Successful readers are rewarded with tickets to selected UCLA Athletic events where they have the opportunity to visit the UCLA campus and experience the excitement of a Division I NCAA sporting event.

The program has touched thousands of children in the greater Los Angeles area and continues to grow. Along with support from parents and library administrators, UCLA hopes that these students will develop a love of reading that will help them achieve their future aspirations.