General | 3/12/2021 10:07:00 AM

Itta Bena, Miss.- Academy Sports + Outdoors is partnering with Mississippi Valley State University (MSVU) to adopt the Itta Bena Youth Baseball League for the Spring 2021 semester. To kickoff the program, Academy Sports + Outdoors and MSVU are teaming up to make a special donation of baseball gear, including balls, tees, gloves, bats and more, to the youth league. 

In the heart of the Mississippi Delta, Mississippi Valley State University strives to engage and uplift the youth of Itta Bena, MS. Known as the "Home in the Woods', the community holds a special connection to the University and it's students. Over the years, the student-athletes have engaged in several projects to inspire the kids in the area. The Itta Bena Youth League is a perfect group to benefit from the Adopt A Team mentorship program with Academy. 

 

Throughout the Spring semester, MSVU student-athletes and coaches will mentor the youth players, from tee-ball to 12-year-olds, through meaningful engagements and joint practices. The interactions with the MSVU student-athletes aim to inspire the youth players from Itta Bena to continue with a sport that has a rich tradition amongst the African American community. 

Academy Sports + Outdoors is the Official Sporting Goods and Outdoor Retailer of the Southwestern Athletics Conference (SWAC). The partnership between Academy Sports + Outdoors and the SWAC focuses on establishing meaningful community initiatives within the SWAC footprint. Specifically, these initiatives will look to activate and amplify grassroots efforts, such as youth outreach and mentoring programs, that is inclusive of students-athletes and administrators from across the conference. 

WHEN: Saturday, March 13, 2021 
3:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. 

WHERE: Academy Sports & Outdoors
1951 Main St. 
Madison, MS 39110 

CONTACT: John Byczek 
Academy Sports + Outdoors 
Cell: 281-728-6833 
john.byczek@academy.com 

About Academy 
Academy is a leading full-line sporting goods and outdoor recreation retailer in the United States. Originally founded in 1938 as a family business in Texas, Academy has grown to 259 stores across 16 contiguous states. Academy's mission is to provide "Fun for All" and Academy fulfills this mission with a localized merchandising strategy and value proposition that strongly connects with a broad range of consumers. Academy's product assortment focuses on key categories of outdoor, apparel, footwear and sports & recreation through both leading national brands and a portfolio of 17 private label brands, which go well beyond traditional sporting goods and apparel offerings.