The Huddle

CEOC's Quarterly Newsletter - September 2024

It’s Fall Y’all! And CEOC is in full stride! May we ask you to press in for just a few moments as we share updates from our hearts to yours?!  You will be blessed to know your continued support is impacting generations!

Highlights

First Down U:

 🏈 On July 12, we kicked off our First Down U(niversity) pilot with current and former Southern Methodist University Mustangs by walking through the lost art of dining etiquette! In the weeks to follow, our mentees heard powerful testimonies from former NFL Players, Coaches, and CEO’s on how to successfully navigate life beyond their roles as student and/or professional athletes.   

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"The First Down Mentorship program was transformative for my mindset in approaching  transition from sports. Each phase of the program gave me a perspective on relationships, etiquette, and professionalism that I could apply in my current experience. Thank you to all that made it happen!"  - J. Foster, former SMU Graduate Assistant

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⚽ With the success of this pilot, SMU asked CEOC to replicate First Down U in a fall grad course. This past Monday, we completed the first training session for a registered class of 26 (over 75% are athletes)!

Learning Labs:

📚 A record number of kiddos have joined our fall after school program! Three days a week, 22 students shuffle into our Plano and Little Elm locations. Let’s hear a little more about life at the labs with our new Coordinator, Jennifer Davis!

    Time Out with Jenn  

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I am a firm believer that kids learn best when they don’t even realize they’re learning! That’s why we strategically incorporate fun, hands-on activities for our Learning Lab students. Whether it’s playing vocabulary games like bingo and charades or engaging in Bible activities like scripture scramble relays and songs, the kids are improving their reading skills while God's truth is poured into their hearts!

Proverbs 22:6 reminds us to train up a child in the way he should go. At CEOC, we strive to do just that as we partner with parents to help lay both the literacy and biblical foundations we believe are vital for their future success!

Advancing the Mission

CEOC's 2nd Annual Bowling Extravaganza 

In mid-October, some 20+ companies/organizations and former NFL Players will join CEOC’s effort to fund our mission! PINSTACK Plano will host our exclusive bowling tournament that will include a healthy dose of competition and fun for the whole family!

We were bowled over success with last year's event and still have a couple lanes available if you fancy strikes, pinball, laser tag, and food! 

September is National Literacy Month!

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September is not just the beginning of Friday night lights and pumpkin spice lattes, it’s a time to bring awareness to the foundational skill of reading! Though many strides have been made, more work is needed!

According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, reading proficiency by third grade is one of the most important predictors of whether a student will graduate high school and succeed in a career, yet according to a study by the U.S. Department of Education, 32 million adults in the U.S. still can’t read.

CEOC’s Literacy Program targets first through fifth grade students. About 70% of our fall group is comprised of 1st through 3rd graders. According to the above marker, we are capturing a critical age while working to recover the lost time of our older kiddos!

HOW CAN YOU PROMOTE LITERACY?

• Volunteer at places like CEOC's Learning Labs
• Donate Books
• Read aloud to children
• Spread the word through social media and your Community Groups
• Financially support literacy programs like ours

This month is a reminder of the power of reading. Will you partner with CEOC to help transform the generations to come?!

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Pumpkin Spice Latte Recipe!