Children in San Antonio and Longview, Texas, to Receive Free Access to Sports and Character Development
Collaboration between nonprofit Buckner International, Wellspring Consulting, and Texas A&M University will expand in 2026 following successful pilots in Houston and Donna, Texas.
Children in at-risk communities in San Antonio and Longview, Texas, will have access to innovative free sports and character development services following the planned January 2026 expansion of a pilot collaboration between nonprofit Buckner International and Wellspring Consulting LLC. Already successfully piloted in Houston and Donna, Texas, the services include youth mentoring, life skills, and sports programming provided by Wellspring through Global Youth Sport for Development (an initiative of Texas A&M University) at Buckner Family Hope Centers®.
Buckner and Wellspring signed an agreement in the fall of 2024 to pilot these enhancements in selected Family Hope Centers in Texas. After serving more than 80 children through sports-focused children’s camps and after-school programming in Houston and Donna, leaders agreed to extend the programming in 2026.
Together the organizations are teaching children and youth character development through sports and practical experiences by marrying the fun and healthy physical activity of sports with conversations about emotions and feelings. The curriculum centers on character development, resiliency, teamwork, and leadership, but children find it more engaging due to the sports emphasis.
In collaboration with Texas A&M University, Buckner is collecting data from the programming to perform research and analysis on the positive outcomes exhibited in children and youth.
“What makes this initiative so exciting is that Buckner not only works with the children and youth but also provides services for parents through our Family Hope Centers,” said Dr. Kandyce Ormes-Ripley, vice president of data analysis and strategy for Buckner International. “Both parents and their children are provided critical services to keep them strong, and decrease the likelihood of abuse, neglect, and removal of children. Each organization provides expertise and allows the programming to be the very best; it’s a win-win for the organizations and more importantly, the families.”
Buckner Family Hope Centers are child-centered, family-focused place where families go to find hope, support and empowerment in their community to reach their fullest God-given potential. The key to Family Hope Centers’ success is found in combining effective programs and passionate people to help families that are experiencing poverty, family issues, or a lack of services.
Wellspring equips students with values-based character development through holistic programs that blend leadership, integrity, and practical life skills. That foundation undergirds their role in this collaboration.
“At Wellspring, we believe character development is most powerful when rooted in community,” said Jeff Reeter, founder and CEO of Wellspring. “No organization embodies that better than Buckner. Their rich history of serving children and strengthening families made them the perfect partner when we first piloted this program, and now, as we double its size, we couldn’t ask for a more aligned collaborator. With Texas A&M continuing as a key partner alongside us, this expansion represents a powerful step forward in bringing values-based learning to after-school sports programs.”
The collaboration hopes to continue expanding the programming throughout more Buckner Family Hope Centers domestically and internationally. Buckner operates approximately 30 Family Hope Centers throughout Texas as well as in Latin America and Africa.
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