The Partnership

The Boys & Girls Clubs of Fort Wayne and MVP Basketball have partnered to bring a comprehensive basketball program to the youth of Fort Wayne.

The program was organized by Mitch Sturm, founder of MVP Basketball and a former Executive Director of the Boys & Girls Club in Marion, Indiana, and Joe Jordan, President & CEO of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Fort Wayne.

Both men have pursued careers that are dedicated to youth development and believe in the positive role that sports play in developing a strong work ethic, responsibility, accountability and academic success. They share the belief that sports and education go hand in hand, create positive networking and can open doors to a higher education, especially for children from low-income families.

"Both Joe [Jordan] and I have organized our own programs and we had collaborated on several great projects in the past. Each has produced a multitude of success stories. This partnership is going to greatly expand the youth basketball opportunities in the greater Fort Wayne area," comments Mitch Sturm, founder of MVP Basketball, "With our core programs, not only will we build Academics through Athletics, we will prepare the kids to be successful on the court, but more importantly in life. With our annual events, we will provide kids a chance to have a great time, make new friends and create memories. We have a great and supportive corporate sponsor in Parkview Health, and we will be incorporating many area celebrities and role models to work with program participants. I am very excited about this partnership. You only get to be a kid once, and we are here to help make that experience an enjoyable one."

Joe has been the driving force behind the capital campaign and the current building project of the Boys and Girls Clubs of Fort Wayne. Through his vision and leadership, children will be able to call the new club home for many decades to come. Each and every child that comes through the doors of the new club will be able to experience the wonderful new opportunities that will be offered and provided for them. The partnership between the Boys and Girls Club and the MVP Basketball Program is just one of those wonderful opportunities that will impact the lives of the youth in the Fort Wayne community in a positive manner.

"As an adult, looking back at my younger years of playing in the MVP Basketball Program at the Boys & Girls Club, I've learned the importance of giving back and leaving a positive impact on your community. Through my experience I made friends, worked on my hoop skills and was given an opportunity to make something of myself. Mitch played a big role in giving kids those opportunities, and many of us still talk about the lasting memories to this day. He made things happen for us"

JaRob McCallum - IUPUI Star and Graduate