Education

EDUCATION CENTER RENOVATIONS

Mavs Foundation Education Centers are designed to expand learning opportunities for reading and education programs, as well as provide Computer Labs and access to technology to assist teens and adults with job-skill training and other valuable tools. All of the work of the Dallas Mavericks Foundation education center projects is completed by Mavs Foundation staff, volunteers and its sponsors.

2022-2023 Education Center Renovations

The Family Place Teen Lounge

The Dallas Mavericks and the Mavs Foundation unveiled the new student lounge at The Family Place. For 45 years, The Family Place has empowered survivors of family violence by providing safe housing, counseling and skills that create independence while building community engagement and advocating for social change to stop family violence. Presented by Chime, the new space allows children and families to spend time together learning and playing with game consoles, headsets, laptops and toys. Dallas Mavericks in-arena emcee Chris Arnold hosted the dedication with special guests Mavericks player Maxi Kleber, Dallas Mavericks Chief Impact Officer Katie Edwards and The Family Place CEO Mimi Sterling.

“The Family Place has been a long-time grantee of the Mavs Foundation. We so appreciate the critical support they provide to the families in our area,” said Edwards. “We’ve supported them with grants for more than 25 years, but this is the first time that we get to come out and create a space that’s warm and inviting and fun with Dallas Mavericks branding and with our player, so we really love that we can be here in person and create this for them.”

“Thanks to the extreme generosity of the Dallas Mavericks and the Mavs Foundation, our youth have a remarkable new space for healing, dreaming and growing during their time at our facilities,” said Sterling. “The multipurpose room has been thoughtfully designed to support teens from our emergency shelter and transitional housing programs, providing a safe area during a pivotal time in their lives. We are so grateful for this investment in our youth’s well-being and educational growth.”

Vickery Meadow Youth Development Foundation Podcast Studio

The Dallas Mavericks and the Mavs Foundation unveiled the new Learning Lab Production Studio at the Vickery Meadows Youth Development Foundation Center (VMYDF). Presented by Chime, the space features an advanced production studio with state-of-the-art equipment, including professional-grade audio recording equipment, cutting edge cinematography gear, laptops, and a green screen, all designed to empower the youth to unleash their creativity and share their narratives through music, video, and podcasts.

During the dedication ceremony hosted by Studio41’s Bobby Karalla, official remarks were made by Mavs Foundation President, Katie Edwards and VMYDF’s Executive Director Janet Morrison-Lane to help dedicate the new studio. Afterwards, Vickery Meadows youth celebrated with art projects, festive food, Mavs entertainers, and tours of the brand-new production studio.

Volunteers of America Texas Resource Center – Mothers and Infants

The Dallas Mavericks and the Mavs Foundation teamed up with Chime to renovate and upgrade a resource center for the MINT Program at Volunteers of America Texas (VOA Texas). The Mothers and Infants Nurturing Together (MINT) Program is a place where incarcerated mothers may come prior to giving birth to their babies at the VOA Texas facility. After giving birth, the mothers can bond with their babies before either returning to the correctional facility, or, in some cases, being released with their children. To better support the mothers, the newly renovated space provides resources to learn about their pregnancy journey, continue their education, and create memory books for their children, in addition to a comfortable living area for them to nurture and spend time with their baby.

To celebrate this project, Dallas Mavericks player Olivier-Maxence Prosper, Mavs Foundation President Katie Edwards, Dallas Wings VP of Social Responsibility LaDondra Wilson, and VOA National CEO Mike King marked the momentous occasion with a dedication ceremony.

“Mavs donated this beautiful room right here to help [the mothers] reinforce who they are and give them confidence to grow, to be great mothers and to become better people in society,” said Prosper. “It’s important for us to give back to our community with the platform we have. I feel a responsibility to help others. God has blessed us with this amazing opportunity to play basketball at the highest level and to be in the position we are in, it’s a responsibility for us to come back and help those who don’t have as much, who need our help. It’s great to play basketball, but there’s more to life than just basketball. How can you help others? How can you inspire the next generation? How can you make a difference? And that’s why I feel like this is so important.”

Projects Coming Soon – Summer 2024:

  • The Bridge, Resource Center
  • Boys and Girls Clubs of Greater Tarrant County – North Fort Worth, Reading and Learning Center

Past Mavs Reading & Learning Center Recipients:

  • Arlington Life Shelter, Shelter Resource Center
  • Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Dallas Oak Cliff, Tech Center (Link)
  • Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Tarrant County, Reading and Learning Centers
  • Buckner Children and Family Services
  • Christ’s Have for Children, Sensory Room (Link)
  • Dallas Bethlehem Center
  • Dallas Leadership Foundation, Tech Center and Conference Room (Link)
  • Family Gateway
  • Fortress Youth Development Center
  • Girls Inc, Tech Center
  • Habitat Humanity Collin County, Reading and Learning Center
  • Jeffries Street Learning Center
  • Salvation Army Resource Center
  • Union Gospel Mission of Dallas County
  • Union Gospel Mission of Tarrant County
  • Vogel Alcove, Parent Opportunity Center
  • Volunteers of America Texas Tech Center (Link)
  • YMCA of Metropolitan Dallas Tech Centeres
  • YouthWorld Readin and Learning Room

ABOUT THE MAVS FOUNDATION: Over the past 26 years, the Mavs Foundation has provided grant funding totaling more than $9 million dollars to nonprofit organizations serving women, children and families in need. In addition to grants, the Mavs Foundation has built 54 safe Learn & Play spaces throughout the North Texas community, including 31 basketball courts and 23 Reading & Learning Centers. These spaces are designed to encourage healthy living and provide a safe place for children and residents, as well as expand learning opportunities and access to technology to support youth education programs, teen and adults job-skill training and other critical programs. Learn more at MavsFoundation.com.

Our Sponsors

ABOUT CHIME: Built on the premise that basic banking services should be helpful, easy and free, Chime has a pulse on what everyday Americans need to live better financial lives. Chime aims to profit with consumers not from them and has a business model that doesn’t rely on consumer fees such as overdraft, monthly service, or minimum balance fees. For additional information: Chime.com.