ALEXANDRIA, Va., Aug. 4 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Riki Ellison, Founder and Chairman of the Youth Impact Program, ( www.youthimpactprogram.org ) announced today that the 2009 Youth Impact Program concluded on Friday, July 31 with closing ceremonies at the University of Southern California. This year's YIP had four universities that participated in the program including Tulane University, the University of South Florida, Rice University and the University of Southern California with more than 500 young boys participating.

The Youth Impact Program is a partnership with Rice University, Tulane University, University of Southern California, University of South Florida and the National Football League (NFL), implemented to focus on helping educate urban-based middle school students. The program is designed to help with issues that face middle school students in inner-city public schools through academic support, guidance counseling, character development, and social interaction activities. The program provides academics, mentorship, character development and nutrition for the middle school students. Students also go through extensive football training, taught by leading NCAA and NFL coaches.

During the camp, students attended academic sessions in the morning and early afternoon, and football sessions in the afternoon on Monday through Thursday. Fridays were open for workshops, guest speakers, field trips, and other fun activities.

The Youth Impact Program web site is located at www.youthimpactprogram.org , and it describes the various aspects of the program at each university. One of the new features on the web site is the sponsor and donor page under the CONTRIBUTE icon. Under the heading of Why Donate, there is an explanation of how to donate to the program. Examples of sponsorship include donating money for mentoring - $200; books and materials - $50; being a YIP fan - $100; buying a football - $20; food -$200 and education of a participant - $300.

Donors may use PayPal, and the form is part of the web site page. Another way to donate is call Riki Ellison, a 10 year veteran of the NFL who played on 3 Super Bowl teams with the 49ers, at 703 299-0061. He will personally explain the need for our communities to have a Youth Impact Program, and he will appreciate your interest and donations.

Ellison has a passion for helping inner-city young men, and he developed the Youth Impact Program to reach out to these young people. Ellison and the Board of Directors are soliciting the support of the public to help keep the program alive. Sponsors and donors are being sought to keep the program financially solvent.

The National Program Office for the Youth Impact Program is located in Alexandria, Virginia and the telephone number is 703 778-6192. The web site is located at www.youthimpactprogram.org

	
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