INSPIRE Speakers Program
The Memphis Grizzlies Charitable Foundation extends mentoring to the Greater Memphis community in many ways, and the INSPIRE program brings Memphis Grizzlies leaders together with select groups of middle school students.
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Dubbed INSPIRE because of the values these leaders know to be instrumental in their personal successes, this program gives local students the opportunity to learn from their experiences and stories. Each speaker is paired with a classroom-size group of middle students they visit once per month.
By working consistently with the same group throughout the school year, the speakers can effectively mentor these students on topics such as goal-setting, overcoming obstacles, self-discipline, and personal and community responsibility.
Speakers include leaders such as minority-share owner Elliot Perry, Grizzlies Assistant Coach Johnny Davis and Foundation Board member Charles Ewing. By partnering with Urban Youth Initiative programs at area middle schools, Grizzlies INSPIRE speakers have and continue to leave a positive, lasting impression on participants.
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The INSPIRE Speakers program values:
- Initiative
- Integrity
- Self-confidence
- Perseverance
- Imagination
- Responsibility
- Enthusiasm
For more information about this program, contact Eric Bleier with the Memphis Grizzlies Charitable Foundation at 901-205-1249 or ebleier@grizzlies.com.