Calvin Avant
Award

The Steve Francis Foundation honors individuals who share in Steve’s mentor Calvin Avant’s commitment to serving youth in the community by encouraging them to choose positive paths and working to ensure that after-school programs and athletic opportunities are available to at-risk youth.

Award Winners

  • 2015 - Donovan Jackson, Richmond-Rosenberg Boys & Girls Club
  • 2014 - Esmeralda Rose, NFL Youth Education Town at James Driver Park Boys & Girls Club
  • 2013 - Joyce Meza, Havard Boys & Girls Club
  • 2012 - Coach Mark Stephens, Johnny Mitchell Boys & Girls Club
  • 2011 - Carol Freeman, Johnny Mitchell Boys & Girls Club
  • 2010 - John E. Robinson III, NFL Youth Education Town at Finnigan Park Boys & Girls Club
  • 2009 - Gayla Thompson, Spring Branch Boys & Girls Club
  • 2008 - Cheryl Chatman, Johnny Mitchell Boys & Girls Club
  • 2007 - Tiffany Berks, NFL Youth Education Town at James Driver Park Boys & Girls Club

Oxon Run Park
Basketball Court

On August 28, 2020, The Steve Francis Foundation teamed up with Muriel Bowser, the Mayor of Washington, DC to unveil newly renovated basketball courts at Oxon Run Park in Ward 8. These courts are dedicated to the memory of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Providing safe places for youth to play sports is near and dear to Steve Francis-the first court he renovated was in 1999 at Banneker High School in Washington, DC and he looks forward to the next court revitalization project.

Takoma-Piney Branch
Park Renovation

The Steve Francis Foundation donated $70,000 to Montgomery County Parks to pay for the complete renovation of the Takoma-Piney Branch Local Park basketball courts and the construction of a handful of other top-notch facilities, including a skateboard park, volleyball court, playground and a pavilion dedicated to his late mother, who passed away when Francis was just 18 years old. It is a true example of how a private-public partnership can work, as SFF paid for the improvements and Montgomery County Parks agreed to maintain and upkeep the Park.

“To me, it’s like 25 years coming. For me to see that was mind blowing. Growing up out there, playing out there gave me so much. It’s about the scenery, the trees, about everybody knowing that this is a family place. That’s the feeling I want everybody to have, to be able to feel like this is a place you can come to be yourself.”-Steve Francis

 

The newly renovated park now provides a safe place for all community members to enjoy the outdoors. It is as peaceful as ever, but now includes the following features:

  • A refurbished basketball court with a color-coated surface and six new basketball goals, enabling half-court play;
  • Two new playgrounds;
  • A new skateboard park,
  • A new picnic pavilion; and
  • “Takoma Trees,”—sculptures at both entrances to the park, created by local artist Judy Moore, with support from the Montgomery County Arts and Humanities Council

Just as the pavilion is dedicated to Francis’ mother Brenda Wilson, the basketball court itself is named after another important figure in the former NBA All-Star’s life: Tony Langley, who was one of Francis’ first coaches at the local Boys & Girls Club and Takoma Park Middle School.

Langley was among those at the dedication ceremony paying tribute to Francis, who said that the re-developed park was as positive a legacy as he could hope for.

For more information please contact us or call Coach Tony Langley at

(202) 491-2412.

DC Warriors

The Steve Francis Foundation has been supporting the DC Warriors enthusiastically since 1999. The DC Warriors Basketball Program 17u, uses basketball training to provide young people with an opportunity to improve their lives on and off the court. Over 20 former DC Warriors earned college athletic scholarships.

“I could not have asked for more in a mentor and coach than Coach Langley. He taught me everything about the game of basketball by making me play every position and I am proud to support his program in my hometown. I hope these boys find the same success on and off the court.” –Steve Francis

The teams practice on Sundays while school is in session, and up to three or four times a week during the summer and holiday breaks. While the Foundation provides much needed support for the teams, the kids and parents are also very active in their community with fundraising in the form of car washes, concession stands, and bake sales. This is something near and dear to Francis, who washed many cars and sold many candy bars himself as a young Warrior. He believes that each team member should participate in fundraising activities just as he did.

The Warriors not only teach fundamentals and skill development, but are very successful in competition. In 2014, the 17 & Under Team were the Champions of the More Than Basketball Spring Jamboree in May 2014 and have not lost more than one game in any tournament for the 2013-2014 season. A few of the tournaments they competed in include Charlie Smith Memorial Classic, Playaz Spring Fling Tournament, and Hoop Group UAA Pitt Jam Fest. The 17 & Under team won the Potomac Valley Regional Championships during the 2009, 2010, 2011, and 2012 seasons. In 2006, the 10 & Under team won the National AAU Championship. Of the 10 that played in that tournament, 8 of the players have basketball scholarships and 1 has a football scholarship.

“The DC Warriors Youth Basketball program uses basketball training to provide young people with an opportunity to improve their lives on and off the court. As with former player Steve Francis, the discipline and skills learned during the Warriors’ basketball experience are tools that can be applied in future life situations. Through SFF, the DC Warriors, in the last 21 years, has been able to continue the same basketball teaching and instruction for scores of youngsters that Steve himself received as a youth.” –Coach Anthony Langley

 

Other Supported Programs